[The pro-fibrotic and pro-oxidant action of isoniazid]

As a result of experimental research on rats with destructive pulmonary tuberculosis, oxidative action of isoniazid in a dose of 50 mg per kg body weight, corresponding to the mean therapeutic dose of 10 mg/kg in man, was clearly defined. Fibrotic action of the drug was also shown. It manifested itself by a sharp rise of insoluble collagen levels in the lung tissue tuberculous lesion focus of the treated animals and in the formation of mature connective tissue. Two mechanisms of isoniazid's pro-fibrotic action are presented.