Increased oxidative stress in elderly leprosy patients is related to age but not to bacillary load.
Pedro Henrique Lopes da SilvaKatherine Kelda Gomes de CastroMayara Abud MendesThyago Leal CalvoJúlia Monteiro Pereira LealMariana de Andrea Villas Boas HackerJosé Augusto da Costa NeryEuzenir Nunes SarnoRoberto Alves LourençoMilton Ozório MoraesFlávio Alves LaraDanuza EsquenaziPublished in: PLoS neglected tropical diseases (2021)
We conclude that elderly patients present exacerbated oxidative damage both in blood and in skin lesions and that age-related changes can be an important factor in leprosy immunopathogenesis. Ultimately, elderly patients could benefit from co-supplementation of antioxidants concomitant to MDT, to avoid worsening of the disease.