[Absorption of nutrients in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis]

The findings of radionuclide investigation of enteric absorption in 222 newly-discovered patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, including 62 with concurrent diseases of the gastroenteric tract and hepatobiliary system, are presented. Pulmonary tuberculosis is accompanied by disturbances in the enteric absorption of fat and protein. In the absence of concurrent diseases of the gastroenteric tract and hepatobiliary system, these disturbances commonly appear to be moderate, but with concurrent diseases they can be significant or acute. As compared with the patients whose absorption is not disturbed or moderately changed, the rate of side effects caused by antituberculous drugs is higher in the patients with significantly or seriously disturbed enteric absorption. Treatment of the disturbed enteric absorption with consideration for its multifactorial causality in tuberculosis patients can contribute to a lower rate of side effects caused by antituberculous drugs and to a higher efficacy of management of such patients.