SHORTEST POSSIBLE ACCEPTABLE, EFFECTIVE AMBULATORY CHEMOTHERAPY IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS .1.

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Abstract
In 2 4.5 mo. regimens and 1 3 mo. regimen the 4 most potent anti-tuberculous drugs (isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and streptomycin) were given for the initial 3 mo. of chemotherapy. Acceptance by the patients was high and bacillary sterilization was achieved in 96% of cases within 2 mo. Addition of a fifth drug, ethionamide, during the initial 3 mo. was neither acceptable nor useful. No relapses were observed during a 12 mo. follow-up period after completion of the 4.5 mo. regimens. A relapse rate of 5% followed the 3 mo. regimen. The toxicity and side effects of antituberculous drugs were observed in 16% of patients during the initial 3 mo. period. In 3.4% of patients, toxicity necessitated cessation of treatment. In the remaining 13% of patients, adverse side effects could be managed without cessation of treatment. Even when patients were ambulatory and outpatient attendance was required for drug administration, the noncompliance rate was only approximately 10%. With the current over-all cost of drugs being limited to 100 USA dollars, the patients with moderately extensive disease must be treated for 100 days or a maximum of 100 doses.

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