title: [A controlled clinical study on the efficacy of recombinant human interleukin-2 in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study and evaluate the efficacy and safety of recombinant human interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and nine cases with re-treated Mycobacterium tuberculosis-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly divided into a trial group (106 cases, treated with 3PaZ (TH)L(2)VE(AK) + IL-2/4PaL(2)V) and a control group (103 cases, treated with 3PaZ(TH)L(2)VE(AK)/4PaL(2)V). The efficacy of 203 cases was available for evaluation when the course was completed (trial group 103 cases, control group 100 cases).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sputum smear-negative conversion rates at the 1st and the 2nd month of therapy were 33.3% and 69.4% in the trial group, and 7.2% and 44.9% in the control group (P < 0.01). At the completion of the therapy, the X-ray resolution rates were 64.1% and 36.0% respectively for the trial and the control groups, the difference being significant (P < 0.001). There were significant differences in CD(4) T cells, the ratio of CD(4)/CD(8) and NK cells between the two groups (P < 0.01). The level of soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) was significantly different between the two groups after treatment for 3 months (P < 0.05). IL-2 associated side effects were rare and mild.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As an effective and relatively safe biological agent, IL-2 can be added to the standard chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Institute of Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor, Beijing 101149, China.
authors.forename: Nai-hui
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Li-zhen
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Zhi-zhong
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Yie
authors.forename: Song-lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Jing-yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jia-lian
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Li-ping
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000032:analysis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D007376:Interleukin-2; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D011994:Recombinant Proteins