Immunotherapy with Mycobacterium vaccae as an addition to chemotherapy for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis under difficult conditions in Africa.

Abstract

A study to assess the impact of immunotherapy with Mycobacterium vaccae on the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis was conducted under existing conditions in Kano, a large city in Northern Nigeria. Whilst it did not quite meet all the criteria of a well-controlled randomized or double-blind trial, the study produced results suggestive of a successful intervention. Immunotherapy with M. vaccae had a beneficial influence on clinical recovery and survival, whether given after 1, 2 or 3 weeks of chemotherapy, according to an assessment made 10-14 months after treatment. Approximately 3 weeks (19.8 days) after the onset of chemotherapy (SHRZ), 73% of the patients who received immunotherapy and 19% of those who received placebo (chemotherapy alone) had become sputum negative by microscopy for acid-fast bacilli (AFB). Similarly, a mean fall in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of 25.4 +/- 2.50 mm and 4.0 +/- 2.29 mm was observed in the immunotherapy and placebo recipients respectively, at the same time of assessment. When weight was assessed in the two groups, it was observed that 3 weeks after starting chemotherapy, the recipients of immunotherapy had a mean weight gain of 2.90 +/- 0.24 kg whilst placebo recipients had a mean weight gain of only 0.55 +/- 0.17 kg. These parameters were re-evaluated, 10-14 months later. They showed that 11% of the recipients of the active intervention and 84.6% of placebo recipients still had demonstrable AFB in their sputum. The mean weight gain had increased to 7.91 +/- 1.03 kg and 2.04 +/- 0.94 kg in the immunotherapy and placebo recipients respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: P C Onyebujoh, T Abdulmumini, S Robinson, G A Rook, J L Stanford
• Journal: Respiratory medicine (Respir Med) Vol. 89 Issue 3 Pg. 199-207 (Mar 1995) ISSN: 0954-6111 [Print] England
• PMID: 7746913 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antitubercular Agents

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Antitubercular Agents (therapeutic use)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Follow-Up Studies
• HIV Seropositivity (complications)
• Humans
• Immunotherapy, Active
• Middle Aged
• Mycobacterium (immunology)
• Nigeria
• Patient Compliance
• Single-Blind Method
• Tuberculosis, Pulmonary (complications, mortality, therapy)