Benefit-Risk Considerations in Preventive Treatment for Tuberculosis in Elderly Persons

摘要: Of 2135 elderly residents of nursing homes in Arkansas (mean age, 79.4 years) who have been treated with isoniazid for prevention tuberculosis, data from 1935 were suitable analysis. About 12 months therapy was successfully completed 1600 persons. Therapy could not be 84 persons (4.4%) because incipient hepatic toxicity and 116 (6.0%) other types drug intolerance. Although 135 (7.0%) died during the course therapy, no evidence found that contributed to any death. The ratio benefit (reduction risk tuberculosis) (for nonfatal isoniazid-related hepatitis) clearly favorable had definite conversions (1.6 women, 3.4 men) but less so tuberculin reactions unknown duration minor increases size reaction (less than mm increase an initially negative reaction).