title: Prospective randomized trial of six-month versus nine-month therapy for intestinal tuberculosis.
abstract: Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) continues to be a common disease worldwide. However, the optimal duration of anti-TB medication has not been well established. We therefore compared the efficacy of 6-month and 9-month therapy in the treatment of intestinal TB. Ninety patients definitely diagnosed with intestinal TB were randomized into 6-month (n = 45) or 9-month (n = 45) treatment groups, prospectively. The primary end point was complete response, defined as endoscopic healing of active lesions. Patients were followed up monthly for 3 months after therapy initiation, then every 3 months until the end of therapy, and finally 1 year later. Relapse was assessed 1 year after the end of therapy by patient interview and colonoscopy. Baseline characteristics were similar in the 6-month and 9-month groups. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed no significant differences between the two groups in complete response (6-month group, 93.3%; 9-month group, 91.1%; P = 1.00) or recurrence rate (6-month group, 2.4%; 9-month group, 0.0%; P = 1.00). Median follow-up duration was 39 months in the 6-month group and 32 months in the 9-month group. No surgery was performed on any patient in either group. In conclusion, the 6-month therapy was as effective as 9-month therapy in patients with intestinal TB and may have the additional benefits of reduced treatment cost and increased compliance.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Sang Hyoung
authors: SH
authors: Park
authors: Suk-Kyun
authors: SK
authors: Yang
authors: Dong-Hoon
authors: DH
authors: Yang
authors: Kyung Jo
authors: KJ
authors: Kim
authors: Soon Man
authors: SM
authors: Yoon
authors: Jae Won
authors: JW
authors: Choe
authors: Byong Duk
authors: BD
authors: Ye
authors: Jeong-Sik
authors: JS
authors: Byeon
authors: Seung-Jae
authors: SJ
authors: Myung
authors: Jin-Ho
authors: JH
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004977:Ethambutol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011718:Pyrazinamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012293:Rifampin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D011718:Pyrazinamide; D004977:Ethambutol; D007538:Isoniazid; D012293:Rifampin