["Immuno-allergic" complications of rifampicin therapy]

From 8 cases of immuno-allergic accidents attributed to Rifampicine, the authors review the literature on the subject. The "flue like" syndrome is the most frequent and characteristic of those accidents, worsened by haematological and renal involvements. These accidents probably belong to a pathology of immuno-complexes in relaiton with the production of anti-Rifampicine antibodies. Among the different means of in vitro diagnosis, the test with the anti-complement antiglobulin is the most reliable, though not always in good correlation with clinical signs. Though rare and most often benign, these accidents should lead to prudence in treating recurrent tuberculosis or reusing Rifampicine after a momentary interruption.