Abstract
BACKGROUND: The study compares the serum ceruloplasmin-to-albumin ratio of tuberculosis (TB) patients before and after anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) to assess its diagnostic and prognostic value. Despite the pandemic's impact on TB notifications, global TB cases rose by 16% in 2022. METHODS: The study was conducted at Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Kanchipuram, from November 2022 to November 2023, with participants aged 15 and above diagnosed with pulmonary TB. The analysis of clinical, radiographic, microbiological, and biochemical data revealed a gender distribution of 58% male and 42% female individuals, with an average age of 49. Significant reductions in ceruloplasmin levels and increases in albumin levels were found following therapy, as well as a decrease in the ceruloplasmin-to-albumin ratio, showing that ceruloplasmin may serve as a severity measure and treatment indicator. RESULTS: Male patients accounted for 58% of the study population, while females accounted for 42%. Patients aged 36-45 made up the largest group (26%). Following treatment, serum ceruloplasmin levels decreased significantly (from 66.28 mg/dL to 35.56 mg/dL), but albumin levels increased (from 2.96 g/dL to 4.19 g/dL). The ceruloplasmin-to-albumin ratio dropped from 0.022 to 0.008, showing treatment efficacy. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlights the potential of serum biomarkers for diagnosing and monitoring TB. The serum ceruloplasmin-to-albumin ratio is a promising biochemical diagnostic. Further research is needed to validate these findings and investigate their clinical significance in TB management.