Short-course chemotherapy for tuberculous pleural effusion and culture-negative pulmonary tuberculosis.
METHODS
Chest Clinics at Blackburn and Newham, UK.


OBJECTIVE
To test the efficacy of a short-course regimen of 6 months rifampicin and isoniazid supplemented by 2 months initial pyrazinamide (2HRZ-4HR), in the treatment of smear and culture-negative pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleural effusion in routine clinical practice.


METHODS
The results of 152 patients with these forms of tuberculosis treated between 1981 and 1991 were analysed retrospectively.


RESULTS
127 patients, 65 with pleural effusion and 62 with culture-negative pulmonary tuberculosis, completed treatment as planned. 100 were followed up for a mean duration 20.5 months (range 4-72) for culture-negative disease and 14.6 months (range 3-46) for pleural effusion. There were no relapses, giving a relapse rate of 0% (95% confidence interval 0-3.62%).


CONCLUSIONS
Unsupervised self-administered treatment with 2HRZ/4HR is a highly effective regimen for culture-negative pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleural effusion in service conditions.
Ormerod
L P
LP
Blackburn Royal Infirmary, Lancashire, UK.
McCarthy
O R
OR
Rudd
R M
RM
Horsfield
N
N
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012293:Rifampin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012646:Self Administration; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin