Oxidative Changes among Women Suffering From Urinary Tract Infection in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria

Background: The action of bacterial infection in the urinary tract can trigger the release of free radicals which could progress and overwhelm endogenous antioxidants, hence oxidative changes occur. This work aimed to estimate the level of oxidized low density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), among women suffering from urinary tract infection in Enugu metropolis.

Materials and Methods: Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research and Ethics committee (HREC) of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku–Ozalla, Enugu State. Informed consent was obtained from all recruited subjects. About forty (40) women diagnosed of UTIs at the UNTH were recruited for the study and twenty (20) women free of UTIs and who are not registered with UNTH were used as a control for this study. Blood specimens were collected and analysed using the ELISA technique to check for Ox-LDL and SOD levels.

Results: The mean value of the antioxidant enzyme, SOD, was lower than that of the control which suggests a possibility of oxidative stress. However, Ox-LDL mean value was lower than that of the control population showing absence of lipid peroxidation in all sampled population, which may have been pronounced if the subjects had complicated UTI like pyelonephritis.

Conclusion: This study showed a drop in the levels of an antioxidant enzyme among UTI patients placing the patients at risk of oxidative stress. Ox-LDL should be higher in test than in control population indicating lipid peroxidation. However, in this study, the Ox-LDL showed no increase in values. Oxidative stress should be looked out for and treated by physicians when treating UTIs.