The aim of this study was to determine the current incidence of side-effects severe enough to cause intolerance of standard antituberculosis therapy with isoniazid, rifampin and pyrazinamide in patients hospitalized as a result of pulmonary tuberculosis. Five hundred and nineteen patients with proven pulmonary tuberculosis, who initially received standard antituberculosis therapy, were retrospectively studied in the department of infectious diseases in a teaching chest hospital. The incidence of severe side-effects related to the therapy, which led to the definitive termination of one of the three standard drugs, was measured and the risk factors for intolerance were analysed. Final termination of either isoniazid, rifampin or pyrazinamide because of severe side-effects was necessary in 121 of the 519 patients (23%). The most severe side-effects leading to final termination of one drug were hepatotoxicity (11%), exanthema (6%), and arthralgia (2%). Pyrazinamide showed more severe side-effects (15%) than isoniazid (7%) and rifampin (1.5%). Significant risk factors for intolerance of the standard therapy following a multivariate analysis were a history of hepatitis (odds ratio (OR) 3.4; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.6-7.6; p = 0.0026) and an age > or = 60 yrs (OR 1.9; 95% CI 1.2-3.2; p = 0.017). Both of these risk factors were also significantly associated with the intolerance of pyrazinamide (history of hepatitis: OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.4-4.3; p = 0.0045; age > or = 60 yrs: OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3-3.5; p = 0.0029) but not of isoniazid and rifampin. The side-effects of standard antituberculosis therapy are frequent in hospitalized patients aged > or = 60 yrs or with a history of previous hepatitis, and are probably due to pyrazinamide rather than to isoniazid or rifampin.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.