Abstract

PIP: The literature discussing whether therapeutic abortion is indicated in TB patients is reviewed. In view of the progress of modern medicine, it is concluded that in principle TB and successful pregnancy are compatible, and abortion is advisable only in exceptional cases, when TB actually is a complication of another disease, for the following reasons: serious cases of TB develop and worsen irrespective of abortion; actually in several cases a worsening was observed after abortion; with proper treatment, it is possible to bring the pregnancy to term without harm to the mother; when the fetus is sufficiently developed, pregnancy can be interrupted before its physiological term, if necessary; generally, abortion may present an even greater risk than continued pregnancy; and the risk of reactivation of stabilized TB during pregnancy may be elimated by appropriate preventive treatment. It is noted that in recent years the use of therapeutic abortion in TB cases has been declining, and the best solution appears to be treating TB and carefully monitoring the development of pregnancy.