The Relationship Between Natural Resistance –Associated Macrophage Protein 1 (NRAMP-1) Levels and Hb and Body Mass Index (BMI) in Tuberculosis Lymphadenitis Patients

Backgrounds: Tuberculosis lymphadenitis (LnTB) is the most common extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB). The NRAMP-1 gene is located in macrophages which functions to secrete iron needed by MTB to live. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (Elisa) is a serological test commonly used in various immunology laboratories. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship of NRAMP-1 levels with Hb and BMI in tuberculosis lymphadenitis patients. Method: This study is a descriptive cross-sectional carried out from January to September 2021 on 50 LnTB patients. Blood was taken before treatment and then an ELISA examination was performed to determine NRAMP-1 levels, as well as an Hb examination. Nutritional status was determined by body mass index (BMI) assessment. Results: Of the 78 respondents, 34.6% are male and 65.4% are female. The mean age of the respondents in this study is 26.89. Histopathologically, it was found that 56.4% are well-organized granulomas and the respondent patients are mostly from Mataram with a percentage of 30.7%. The mean nodule complaint is 3.0064 cm. The mean NRAMP-1 level is 256.88, the mean Hb is 12.05, and the mean BMI is 20.31. After the spearman-rho test, it was found that the relationship between NRAMP-1 levels and Hb is p=0.018 and the relationship between NRAMP-1 levels and BMI is p=0.242. Conclusion: There is a relationship between NRAMP-1 levels and Hb. However, there is no significant relationship between NRAMP-1 levels and BMI.