Acute Phase Proteins in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Plateau State

Pulmonary tuberculosis continues to impose a heavy disease burden in North Central Nigeria, and understanding the systemic inflammatory response associated with active infection may aid in monitoring disease severity and treatment response. This study evaluates acute phase proteins including C-reactive protein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, and fibrinogen in patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis at a TB-DOTS centre in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. A case-control design was employed, recruiting 100 newly diagnosed sputum-positive TB patients and 100 healthy community controls matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Blood samples were collected at baseline and at two and six months of anti-TB therapy. Serum acute phase proteins were measured using ELISA and radial immunodiffusion. Concurrent HIV status was documented, and participants co-infected with HIV were analysed as a separate subgroup. The study aims to determine the magnitude of acute phase response in active TB and to assess the utility of these proteins as surrogate markers of therapeutic response. Findings will contribute to the evidence base for biochemical monitoring of TB treatment outcomes in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: acute phase proteins, pulmonary tuberculosis, CRP, TB monitoring, Plateau State.