Tuberc Respir Dis.  2006 Feb;60(2):180-186.

A Retrospective Study for Relapse Rate According to the Discontinuance of Para-aminosalicylic acid(PAS) after Bacteriological Conversion during the Course of Chemotherapy for Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis(MDR-TB)

• Park SK
• Kim BJ
• Shin DO
• Jun BY

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Para-aminosalicylic acid(PAS) is a 2nd-line drug that can cause severe adverse reactions leading to poor patient compliance. This study evaluated the relapse rate according to the discontinuance of PAS at a certain point after bacteriological conversion during the course of chemotherapy for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis(MDR-TB).
METHODS
42 out of 452 MDR-TB patients were enrolled in this study. All subjects were receiving chemotherapy including PAS at National Masan TB Hospital between Jan. 1, 2000 and Dec. 31, 2001. The relapse rate was evaluated after the discontinuance of PAS from their initial regimen as a result of the severe adverse reactions at a certain point after the bacteriological conversion during the course of chemotherapy for MDR-TB.
RESULTS
The male to female ratio was 2.5:1, and the mean age was 47.2 years old. The average number of past histories, used drugs and resistant drugs was 1.2, 3.9 and 4.3. The mean number of sensitive drugs included in the inirial regimen was 3.9. The mean time for bacteriological conversion and discontinuance of the PAS was 2.3 months after initiating treatment and 6 months after bacteriological conversion, respectively. There was no relapse after discontinuing PAS during a mean follow up period of 31.6 months.
CONCLUSION
PAS may be discontinued in the cases of serious gastrointestinal problems approximately 6 months after bacteriological conversion without concern about relapse.

Keyword

Para-aminosalicylic acid(PAS); Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis; Compliance

MeSH Terms

Compliance
Drug Therapy*
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Patient Compliance
Recurrence*
Retrospective Studies*
Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant

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