Abstract | OBJECTIVE: DESIGN: Double blind randomised placebo controlled trial. SETTING: Two medical school affiliated referral hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. PATIENTS: INTERVENTIONS: All patients received standard short course antituberculous chemotherapy and were randomly assigned to receive prednisolone or placebo for six weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical improvement, echocardiographic and radiologic pericardial fluid resolution, and death. RESULTS: 29 patients were assigned to prednisolone and 29 to placebo. After 18 months of follow up there were five deaths in the prednisolone treated group and 10 deaths in the placebo group. Mortality was significantly lower in the prednisolone group (log rank chi(2) = 8. 19, df = 1, p = 0.004). Resolution of raised jugular venous pressure (p = 0.017), hepatomegaly (p = 0.007), and ascites (p = 0.015), and improvement in physical activity (p = 0.02), were significantly more rapid in the prednisolone treated patients. However, there was no difference in the rate of radiologic and echocardiographic resolution of pericardial effusion. CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | J G Hakim, I Ternouth, E Mushangi, S Siziya, V Robertson, A Malin |
Journal | Heart (British Cardiac Society)
(Heart)
Vol. 84
Issue 2
Pg. 183-8
(Aug 2000)
ISSN: 1468-201X [Electronic] England |
PMID | 10908256
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Multicenter Study, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
- Antitubercular Agents
- Prednisolone
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Topics |
- AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections
(diagnosis, drug therapy)
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Antitubercular Agents
(therapeutic use)
- Double-Blind Method
- Drug Therapy, Combination
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Pericarditis, Tuberculous
(diagnosis, drug therapy)
- Prednisolone
(therapeutic use)
- Treatment Outcome
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