Jaundice due to anti-tuberculous drugs--a dose related phenomenon

Data of 429 cases proved to have tuberculosis and on anti-tuberculous short course chemotherapy was analysed to find the incidence of jaundice due to anti-tuberculous drugs. The group included 257 males and 172 females (M : F ratio of 3 : 2), aged 7 to 75 years. 336 patients received short course chemotherapy for a duration of 6 months, while 93 patients were cases of relapse and hence received treatment for 9 months duration. Of these, 7 patients developed drug induced jaundice; 2 each in the age group of 21 to 35 years, and 36 to 50 years while 3 patients were in the age group of 51-65 years. All of these patients developed jaundice within 2 months of treatment and 6 of these 7 patients were receiving drugs in doses which were not adjusted as per the weight of the patient. None of these 6 patients redeveloped jaundice when the drugs were started in doses adjusted accurately as per the weight of the patients, in accordance with IUAT recommendations. One patient (0.21%), who was staredon weight adjusted dosage of anti-TB drugs developed jaundice which was probably due to isoniazed hypersensitivity.