title: [Use of polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis and evaluation of chemotherapy for pulmonary tuberculosis].
abstract: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a new procedure for preparing sputum samples for DNA isolation on the basis of immunomagnetic separation of mycobacteria was employed to examine sputum samples from 141 patients with first diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and 510 diagnostic materials from patients with nonspecific lung disease. In 47 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, sputum bacterial isolation was followed up, by using PCR and conventional microbiological studies during regular, every 6-7-week, examination. The sensitivity of PCR employing the above procedure for preparing the samples averaged 66% versus 48% when a cultural study was applied. Its specificity was 99.4%. Bacterial isolation cessation with the use of PCR well correlated with the clinical and X-ray trends in the disappearance of the signs of a tuberculous process.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Aleksandrov
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vladimirskiĭ
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Shipina
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Levchenko
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents