[Adverse effects of the new tuberculosis treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the principal adverse effects of the tuberculosis treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.


METHODS
A prospective descriptive study involving 79 tuberculosis patients treated at the Clinical Research Center of the Cassiano Antonio Moraes University Hospital, in the city of Vitória, Brazil, between 2003 and 2006. The treatment regimen consisted of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol for four months, followed by rifampicin and isoniazid for two months. During the treatment period, the patients were clinically evaluated every week and had a monthly medical visit.


RESULTS
The overall incidence of adverse effects was 83.54%. Articular/bone/muscle involvement was the most common, followed by skin involvement (24.94% and 22.09%, respectively). Adverse effects were more common in the second month of treatment (41.59%). Modification of the treatment regimen was unnecessary. One patient required concomitant medication to counter the adverse effects. The cure rate was 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
The overall incidence of adverse effects related to the new treatment regimen recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health was high. However, none of those effects demanded a change in the regimen, which was effective in the patients evaluated.
Maciel
Ethel Leonor Noia
EL
Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, ES, Brasil. emaciel@ndi.ufes.br
Guidoni
Letícia Molino
LM
Favero
Juliana Lopes
JL
Hadad
David Jamil
DJ
Molino
Lucilia Pereira
LP
Jonhson
John L
JL
Dietze
Reynaldo
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001938:Brazil; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
D000995:Antitubercular Agents