title: [The clinical study on efficacy of clarithromycin, levofloxacin, and streptomycin for pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to elucidate retrospectively the clinical effects of using RFP, EB, CAM, LVFX, and SM for pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  During 9-year (1995-2003) period, 72 patients diagnosed according to the criteria of the Japanese Society for Tuberculosis Guidelines and treated for at least 6 months were available for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The age averaged 68 (range, 32-92) years. The male to female ratio was approximately 2 : 3. The follow-up period averaged 344 (190-365) days. 59 of 72 patients were treated for the first time. 58 of 72 patients were diagnosed as primary infection type. Among them, 20, 38, and 14 patients were treated by RFP, EB, and CAM (REC group), RFP, EB, CAM and LVFX (LVFX group), and RFP, EB, CAM, and SM (SM group), respectively. Comparing the baseline patient characteristics among three groups, we found significant difference (measured by ANOVA) in gender (male/female, REC group: 8/12, LVFX group: 20/18, and SM group: 2/12, p < 0.05), age (REC group: 75.2 +/- 9.1, LVFX group : 66.5 +/- 12.5, and SM group: 63.9 +/- 11.9, p < 0.01) and body mass index (REC group: 17.2 +/- 2.9, LVFX group: 18.9 +/- 2.8, and SM group: 19.7 +/- 2.4, p < 0.05). However, we did not find any significant difference in the clinical outcomes (improving rate of the symptoms, change of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate, improving rate of the chest X-ray, and the results of follow-up on bacteriological effect). In the 60 of 72 patients treated for 1 year, the results were superior to those of some previous reports (1-year improving rate of the symptoms, 1-year improving rate of the chest X-ray, 1-year improving rate of the sputum conversion, and 1-year rate of the relapse were 54.3%, 65.0%, 60.0%, and 15.3%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further study was warranted that no advantage was shown by an additional use of LVFX or SM on REC from the point of view of the clinical effects for pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex infection, in spite of the higher age and deteriorated nutritional status of REC group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, National Hospital Organization Higashi Nagoya National Hospital, 5-101, Umemorizaka, Meito-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi 465-8620, Japan.
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taga
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Taku
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Masao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tano
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D064704:Levofloxacin; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015270:Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D064704:Levofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin; D017291:Clarithromycin; D013307:Streptomycin