Short-duration treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis

In this study, pulmonary tuberculosis was treated on an ambulatory basis, with the patients engaging in their usual activities and with a shortened period of chemotherapy. During the first year of the study, patients with pulmonary tuberculosis were randomly included in one of the following two groups: (1) group 1 received isoniazid (5 to 6 mg/kg of body weight), ethambutol (25 mg/kg), and rifampin (rifampicin, 10 mg/kg) daily for a total of six months; and (2) group 2 received the same therapy as group 1, but treatment was continued for a further six months with only isoniazid (5 mg/kg three days per week). At the beginning of the second year of the study, all subsequent patients included in the study were placed into group 1. Of the 163 patients who started the study, 136 patients (99 from group 1 and 37 from group 2) completed the treatment and converted their bacteriologic findings. There was one relapse in group 1. Adverse reactions were observed in six patients, but they did not have to interrupt treatment.