Data from: Advanced glycation end products (AGE) and receptor for AGE (RAGE) in patients with active tuberculosis, and their relationship between food intake and nutritional status

Introduction: The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is
expressed in normal lungs and is upregulated during infection. AGEs and
RAGE cause oxidative stress and apoptosis in lung cells. The objective of
this study is to evaluate levels of AGEs and its soluble receptor (sRAGE),
and to investigate their relationship with food intake and nutritional
status, in a university-affiliated hospital in Brazil. Methods:
Case-control study, from June 2017 to June 2018. AGE (carboxymethyl
lysine, CML) and sRAGE were measured from blood samples by Elisa.
Nutritional assessment was performed by body mass index, triceps skin-fold
thickness, mid-arm circumference, mid-arm muscle circumference,
bioelectrical impedance analysis, and food frequency questionnaire.
Results: We included in the study 35 tuberculosis (TB) patients and 35
controls. The mean sRAGE levels were higher in TB patients than in
controls (68.5 ± 28.1 vs 57.5 ± 24.0 pg/mL; p=0.046). Among cases that
were current smokers, lower sRAGE levels were associated with mortality,
evaluated at the end of hospitalization (p=0.006), and with weight loss
(p=0.034). There was no statistically significant difference in CML levels
and diet CML content between cases and controls. Malnutrition was more
frequent in cases, but there was no correlation between nutritional
parameters and CML or sRAGE levels. Conclusions: TB patients had higher
sRAGE levels than controls, although it is not clear that this difference
is clinically relevant. Also, sRAGE was associated with weight loss and
mortality.