The effectiveness of treatment in patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis depending on the mode of administration of antimtuberculosis drugs

Abstract

Background and objective. The aim of research was to determine the effectiveness of chemotherapy using intravenous (i/v) antimtuberculosis drugs compared with their oral administration during the intensive phase (IP) of treatment in patients with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Methods. 130 TB patients were randomized into 2 groups: Main (n=65) who received isoniazid, ethambutol and sodium rifamycin i/v + pyrazinamide per os and control (n=65) who received all the drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, pyrazinamide) orally. Results. After 2 weeks of treatment symptoms of intoxication disappeared in 90.7% of patients of the main group (MG) and 75.0% patients in the control group (CG), p<0.05. The mean duration of symptoms of intoxication in patients MG was 9,6±0,7 days, in CG -13.4±1.2 days. After completing IP sputum conversion was found in all the patients MG and 43 (95.7%) patients CG. The average time of sputum conversion in MG was 1.6±0.1 months and 1.8±0.1 months in CG, p>0.05. In patients with destructive pulmonary TB time to sputum conversion was 1.7±0.1 months in MG and 2.1±0.1 months in CG, p<0.05. The average time of cavities healing in MG was 2.9±0.2 months and 3.7±0.3 months in the CG, p<0.05. Conclusions. In patients with destructive pulmonary TB use of isoniazid, ethambutol and sodium rifamycin i/v in the intensive phase of chemotherapy resulted in a significant reduction in terms of the disappearance of symptoms of intoxication and sputum conversion. Funding acknowledgement: the study was supported by the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine.