[Hazards of antitubercular treatment--case report]

A case of the female caucasian patient with constricting tuberculous pericarditis is presented. The patient has been treated with tuberculostatics, which produced severe to ic liver damage, and ultimately the death. A risk of liver damage increases with patients' age and the jaundice onset in the period shorter than two months after the start of therapy. Prognosis is poor in case of HBs carrier state, alcohol abuse, therapy with benzodiazepines, and oral contraceptives. A moderate increase in transaminases activity does not require a cessation of the drugs but a reduction of the administered doses is necessary, especially in patients over 35 years of age. Patients of the height risk group require a careful selection of antitubercular+ agents. Patients with suspected chronic liver disease should be carefully examined, together with liver biopsy, before tuberculostatics are given.