title: [Neuropathic pain during tuberculosis treatment in Bamako (Mali)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of tuberculosis is high in Africa. It is treated with medications that can trigger neuropathic pain and thus negatively affect patients' quality of life and treatment compliance. The aim of this study was to investigate neuropathic pain due to antituberculosis drugs in patients without HIV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study, conducted in the pulmonology department of the University Hospital of Point G, Mali, included patients taking antituberculosis drugs who had negative HIV tests and no other potential cause of neuropathic pain. Diagnosis of neuropathic pain relied on the DN4 questionnaire (4 questions for neuropathic pain) and its assessment on a visual analog scale (VAS) and the Lattinen test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, 423 subjects were admitted to our department, 103 (24.4%) with tuberculosis. Eighty met the inclusion criteria. The sex ratio (male to female) was 2.5. Their mean age was 39 years (range: 13-80). In all, 13 (16.25%) reported neuropathic pain. Burning sensations in the plantar region, with or without paresthesia, were the presenting symptoms in 10 of them. All patients began a treatment based on amitriptyline, vitamin B6, and physical therapy and all reported improvement within 2 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neuropathic pain occurs independently of age, sex or the specific antituberculosis regimen, as long as it includes isoniazid. Stopping or modifying the treatment regimen is not necessary. In our context, in view of the difficulties in identifying slow acetylators, the routine addition of vitamin B6 to all treatment protocols should be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Service de neurologie, CHU de Gabriel Touré, Bamako, Mali. youssoufamaiga@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maiga
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toloba
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: M'belesso
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Danièle
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cissoko
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Illiassou
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Maiga
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Traoré
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008302:Mali; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents