Correlation between serum Calcium levels and smear grading among the pulmonary tuberculosis patients

Objective: To find the serum calcium (Ca) levels in the pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) patients and its correlation with smear grading. Methods: Microscopically confirmed PT patients were included in the test group and healthy individuals in the control group. Two sputum samples were collected from the participants by the same day approach. Smears were stained by Ziehl Neelsen staining technique. Simultaneously 5 ml blood was collected; serum was separated by centrifugation at 3000 rpm, 10 minutes. Serum Ca was estimated by kit method, by auto analyzer. ANOVA test was used to find the statistical significance. Results: Total 100 participants were included. The mean serum Ca levels were 7.2 mg/dL and 9.4 mg/dL in the test and control groups, respectively. Grade wise the mean serum Ca levels were 7.4 mg/dL, 7.3 mg/dL, 7.1 mg/dL and 7 mg/dL respectively for scanty, 1+. 2+ and 3+. Statistically the difference was not significant among the groups and the grades. Conclusion: As per our study hypocalcemia is observed in PT patients and the mean serum Ca levels were decreased with smear grading. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2018; 8(1):19-22