Status of free radicals and antioxidants in leprosy patients.

Oxidative stress is a condition associated with an increased rate of cellular damage induced by the oxygen derived oxidants commonly known as reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are capable of damaging cellular constituents generated in excess during the chronic, inflammatory, neurodegenerative disease process of leprosy. Severe oxidative stress has been reported in leprosy patients because of malnutrition and poor immunity.