[Quantitative evaluation of the dynamics of tubercular mediastinal adenopathy treated with rifampicin and ethambutol]

The authors have followed for one year the rhythm of involution of adenopathy in 114 patients aged between 0 and 16 years, with patent primary infection, in which four therapeutic regimens have been randomly applied, in continuous or intermittent administration, with INH-RMP; RMP-EMB; INH-EMB; INH-SM. Quantified data were obtained with the aid of a planimeter, measuring the surface of the adenopathy on trimestrial seriotomographies. The rhythm of involution was evaluated by the variable halving time of the surface of the adenopathy under treatment. The percentage, the data of the physical model, showed that in the first 3--4 months, detection of the curves is more rapid for RMP and the 7/7 formula, but with almost similar results (8--14%) at 12 months. By processing the data in the computer, depending on the mathematical model, it was estimated that the halving time is by 90,4 days shorter for RMP and similar for EMB and SM.