[Effectiveness of antitubercular chemotherapy combined with corticosteroids and immunomodulators]

Abstract

One hundred forty eight patients with common forms of pulmonary tuberculosis in an outbreak phase and the presence of secondary immunodeficiency were observed. Caverns were found in 80.4% and bacterial excretion, in 87.16% of the cases. Group 1 (71 persons) received chemotherapeutic drugs only; group 2 (21 persons), chemotherapeutic drugs and T-activin; group 3 (33 persons), chemotherapeutic drugs and corticosteroids; and group 4 (23 persons), chemotherapeutic drugs, corticosteroids and T-activin. The bacterial excretion in all the groups was found to be the same. The regression of infiltrative changes in the lungs by the 6-th month of treatment was more significantly registered in the groups of patients on a regimen containing chemotherapeutic drugs, corticosteroids and T-activin. Cavern closure rate appeared to be the lowest in subjects receiving chemotherapeutic drugs and corticosteroids; the addition of T-activin increases the cavern closure index. The combination of chemotherapeutic drugs, corticosteroids and T-activin promotes the normalization of the cellular immunity and increases the efficacy of pulmonary tuberculosis treatment.