Abstract:
In Ukraine tuberculosis (TB) notification rates are constantly increasing since 1991 with incidence and mortality rates in 2004 being 80.9/100,000 and 22.6/100,000 respectively. In Odessa region in 2004 TB incidence and mortality rates were reported at 73.6/100,000 and 19.0/100,000 respectively. The south part of Ukraine and Odessa region in particular are hot-spots of TB and HIV epidemics in the Ukraine. The glutathione-S-transferases M and T (GSTM and GSTT) are the major phase II detoxification enzymes in humans. Recent reports have demonstrated that GSTM-null and GSTT-null0genotypes are risk factors for the development of pulmonary diseases, particularly pulmonary TB.