[Polymerase chain reaction technique in monitoring treatment of bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the relationship between sputum Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as its DNA negative conversion and relapse in bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis during chemotherapy and 2 years after completion of treatment, and to evaluate the value of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique in monitoring the efficacy of treatment.


METHODS
Eighty-seven patients with bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis were monthly examined by PCR technique, smear and culture methods, and were followed up for 2 years after treatment.


RESULTS
The duration of sputum negative conversion by PCR technique was 1-3 months later than that by smear and culture methods. The more the sputum bacteria, the longer the duration of PCR positive results. Positive PCR results maintained in 10 out of 87 patients for more than 1 year, among them 3 (30%) relapsed respectively at 8, 12 and 16 months after treatment. One PCR negative conversion case relapsed at 18 months after treatment. These 4 cases who regained sputum positive results and showed deterioration in chest X-ray films were admitted to hospital again.


CONCLUSIONS
PCR technique is more practical than smear and culture methods in monitoring efficacy of the treatment of bacillary pulmonary tuberculosis, and is useful for evaluating cases with possible relapse.
An
S
S
Guangzhou Hospital of Thorax, Guangzhou 510095.
Fan
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012008:Recurrence; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial