Anti-tubercular treatment in patients with hepatitis.

ABSTRACT

Sixty seven patients with coexistent tuberculosis and hepatitis were given a 3 drug regimen of streptomycin (SM), isonicotinic acid hydrazide (INH) and ethambutol (ETB) and observed for a period of 15 days. Total bilirubin as well as SGPT were repeated weekly and these showed a significant drop in a majority of patients when observed over this period. No patient developed any signs of fulminant hepatic failure. We conclude that a regimen of SM, INH and ETB can be given to patients who suffer from combined pathologies of pulmonary tuberculosis and active hepatitis without incurring the danger of increasing hepatocellular dysfunction/damage.