ABSTRACT
Background: Pyrazinamide (PZA) has been known to adversely affect the haemostatic mechanisms in our body. Aim: This study aims to find out whether PZA has any influence on the course of haemoptysis. Methods: One hundred and six patients of active pulmonary tuberculosis and haemoptysis, having normal baseline coagulators profile, were included in this prospective study. One half of them were given PZA containing anti-tuberculosis regimens (PZA group) and the other half were prescribed non-PZA containing regimens (non-PZA group). They were managed conservatively and followed up for a period of 7 days. Results: Blood loss during therapy was moderate to massive in amount in majority (56.61%) of patients in the PZA group as compared to non-PZA group (35.84 %). Though the mean duration of haemoptysis was almost similar in both the groups (3.98 days in the PZA group versus 4.12 days in the non-PZA group), but in patients in whom haemoptysis lasted for more than 3 days, in the non-PZA group, majority (62.50 %) had minimal blood loss as compared to the PZA group (48.27 %). Concusion: Although PZA does not alter the mean duration of haemoptysis but omission of PZA can significantly reduce blood loss during therapy.