title: Clinical trial of two short-course (6-month) regimens and a standard regimen (12-month) chemotherapy in retreatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in Pakistan. Results 18 months after completion of treatment (Lahore Tuberculosis Study).
abstract: This study compared the efficacy and tolerability of two 6-month daily regimens of isoniazid and rifampin in combination with either pyrazinamide or ethambutol (RHZ and RHE regimens) against a standard daily regimen of streptomycin, isoniazid, and ethambutol (SHE regimen) given for 6 months followed by isoniazid and ethambutol for an additional 6 months. Only previously treated sputum positive patients suffering from active pulmonary tuberculosis were entered into the study. Three hundred and fifty-eight patients were admitted to the study and 267 (75%) completed chemotherapy. Eighty-five percent of RHZ-regimen and 82% of RHE-regimen patients achieved sputum culture negativity compared to 55% of patients in SHE regimen. Successfully treated patients were followed up for 18 months, and among these, all 3 treatment regimens showed broadly similar levels of culture negativity at the end of the follow-up period. Final therapeutic outcome was based on sputum culture results obtained throughout the follow-up period, and no statistically significant difference in relapse rate was noticed in the 3 regimens. Severe drug intolerance necessitated discontinuation of therapy in only 2 patients.
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations