Early experience with sparfloxacin in tuberculosis

Between December, 1996 and July, 1997, 14 patients of advanced tuberculosis with a mean history of prior treatment of 27.4 months were put on oral Sparfloxacin 200 mg daily. One case each had lumbar spine and pelvic bone disease with abscesses, one had subcostal abscess and another had subpulmonic effusion. The remaining 10 cases had moderate clinical illness with tuberculosis (meningitis (1), massive pneumonia (1)). There was an early dramatic response to the new regime, (Sparfloxacin given along with PAS, isoniazide (2), PH with R or Doxy (2), SHRZ (4), RH (1), RHZ (2), SHRE (1), and RH + Cy Eth (1)). The only side-effect complaint was nausea. The response was good (clinical 3+ or more: 11; Radiographic > 50%: 11; smear conversion: 12) in 12 cases; one case with tuberculous meningitis died seven weeks after a temporary improvement.