Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide from an infectious agent. Natural killer T (NKT) cells recognize mycobacterial antigens and contribute to anti-MTB immunity in mouse models. NKT cells were measured in subjects with pulmonary tuberculosis, MTB-exposed individuals, and healthy controls. NKT cell levels are selectively lower in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals with pulmonary tuberculosis than in both MTB-exposed subjects and healthy control subjects. This apparent loss of NKT cells from the peripheral blood is sustained during the 6 months after the initiation of MTB treatment. These findings indicate that NKT cells may be an important component of antituberculosis immunity.
Objetivo: Determinar a efetividade do tratamento com esquemas alternativos para casos confirmados de tuberculose multirresistente (TBMR) primária e adquirida, em pacientes ambulatoriais. Métodos: Casos de TBMR foram definidos como cultura e isolamento de M. tuberculosis e perfil de resistência in vitro a pelo menos à rifampicina, isoniazida e a uma terceira droga dos esquemas padronizados no Brasil, tanto pelo método convencional (LJ) quanto pelo sistema radiométrico BACTEC. Desenho: Ensaio clínico, multicêntrico, não randomizado e controlado. Os pacientes foram arrolados entre abril de 1995 e dezembro de 1997, no total de 197. Por diversas razões 10 casos foram excluídos da análise. Em abril de 1998 permaneciam em tratamento 36 pacientes. Foram analisados 149 casos com duração média de tratamento de 14 meses sem interrupção. Os regimes foram escolhidos conforme o perfil de sensibilidade: 1) estreptomicina, ofloxacina, terizidona, etambutol, clofazimina ou 2) amicacina, ofloxacina, terizidona, etambutol e clofazimina. Demografia: sexo: masculino - 68,4%, feminino - 31,5%; média de idade - 36,9 anos (14-71 anos); prevalência de HIV - 1,9%; taxa de resistência primária - 8%, taxa de resitência secundária - 92%. Resultados parciais: 120 (79,5%) pacientes negativaram a cultura no período de 3 meses; cura - 53%, falência - 31%, óbito - 6%, abandono - 10%. Definições: cura - tratado por 12 meses, com 6 meses de tratamento após 2 culturas consecutivas negativas; abandono - tratamento e consultas descontinuados; óbito - morte causada por TB após 2 meses de tratamento; falência - persistência de positividade na cultura em 12 meses seguidos. Conclusão: O maior preditor da multirresistência no estudo foi tratamento prévio irregular ou incompleto. Outros preditores (p < 0,05) foram: ser homem, ter lesão radiológica cavitária bilateral e ter mais de 2 anos de doença. A taxa de conversão bacteriológica em escarro e cultura foi alta em 6 meses de tratamento.
The relationship of NAT2, CYP2E1 and GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms with mild elevation of liver biomarkers was investigated in individuals under anti-tuberculosis drug therapy. Tuberculosis outpatients (18-70 y) with (n=59) and without (n=40) mild increase of liver enzymes (MILE) at two-month treatment were selected. Blood samples were obtained for DNA extraction and evaluation of serum markers of liver function. NAT2, CYP2E1 and GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms were detected by DNA sequencing, PCR-RFLP, and PCR multiplex. Frequency of NAT2*5/*5 genotype was higher in MILE than in non-MILE group (p=0.04). Patients carrying NAT2*5/*5 genotype had increased susceptibility to MILE (OR: 9.00, 95CI: 1.46-55.48, p=0.018). CYP2E1*5B allele (*1A/*5B plus *5B/*5B genotypes) carriers had a trend for reduced risk for MILE (OR: 0.34, 95CI: 0.11-1.03, p=0.056) that was confirmed by lower levels of liver markers than CYP2E1*1A/*1A carriers after treatment (p<0.05). Moreover, increased post-treatment ALT, AST and total bilirubin were associated with GSTM1*1/GSTT1*1 genotypes (p<0.05). Patients taking CYP2E1 inhibitors had increased susceptibility to MILE (OR: 7.39, 95CI: 1.93-28.29, p=0.003), which was independent of the studied polymorphisms. These results are suggestive that NAT2, CYP2E1 and GSTM1/GSTT1 polymorphisms and concomitant use of CYP2E1 inhibitors contribute to the susceptibility to mild alterations in liver enzymes in patients under anti-tuberculosis drug therapy.
The treatment of tuberculosis (TB) is ranked as the most cost effective of all therapeutic programmes in terms of cost per year of life saved. Nevertheless, TB kills or debilitates more adults aged between 15 and 59 years than any other disease in the world; furthermore, about 2 to 4% of the burden of disease, 7% of all deaths and 26% of all preventable deaths are directly attributable to TB. About one-third of the world's population is infected with the TB bacillus. In the developing world, more women of childbearing age die from TB than from causes directly associated with pregnancy and childbirth. The death of adults in their prime, who are parents, community leaders and producers in most societies, causes a particularly onerous burden besides being a serious public health problem. In the poorest countries, where the magnitude of the TB problem is greatest, those TB control strategies that are economically feasible tend to be less effective. Therefore, in low and middle income countries, cost-effectiveness considerations aimed at prioritising resource allocation in the health sector in general, and in TB control programmes in particular, are of paramount importance. Operationally, the main components of a TB control programme are: (i) detection and treatment of TB; and (ii) prevention of TB through BCG vaccination and chemoprophylaxis. Priority should be given to ensuring that TB patients complete their prescribed course of chemotherapy. Adequate treatment is the most effective way of preventing the spread of TB and the emergence of drug resistance. This article reviews evidence of the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of different approaches to TB care, particularly those that are applicable to low income countries, in both HIV-infected and noninfected patients. Financial implications and ways to implement directly observed therapy for TB in large urban areas are discussed, and the need to address some relevant operational issues is highlighted. The current role of chemoprophylaxis and BCG vaccination is also reviewed.
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