[Managing the adverse events of antitubercular agents]

[Epidemiological and evolutionary profile of tuberculosis under the influence og HIV]

INTRODUCTION

We conducted this study to understand the impact of HIV infection on the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in an outpatient care center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective and comparative study between subjects infected or not infected with HIV, using TB case notification data registered from October 2017 to September 2019 in the intermediate care facility (CDT) of the University Hospital of Libreville. Comparisons were made by bivariate analysis; proportions were compared using the Chi² or the Fisher Exact test. Variables of significant interest were included in a binary logistic regression model for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

Prevalence of HIV infection was 30.4%. Average age was 35.2 years with extremes at 15 and 83 years. In the results of the multivariate analysis, female patients were more frequently infected with HIV (p=0.002; OR=1.960, 95% CI [1.275 - 3.015]) and HIV infection was associated with a reduction in the proportion of PTB (+) (p=0.001; OR=0.483, 95% CI [0.311 - 0.752]). HIV infection was also associated with an increased proportion of new cases (P=0.007; OR=2.987, 95% CI [1.353 - 6.597]), EPT (p<0.001; OR=1.084, 95% CI [1.054 - 1.131] and an unfavorable therapeutic outcome (p=0.016; OR=2.744, 95% CI [1.208 - 6.233]).

CONCLUSION

TB/HIV co-infection remains high. It continues to negatively impact outpatient management of TB.

Safety of Pyrazinamide for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in Older Patients Over 75 Years of Age: A Retrospective Monocentric Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

Pyrazinamide (PZA) has a controversial safety profile in older patients. We aimed to assess the frequency and risk factors for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in patients over 75 years of age treated for tuberculosis with or without PZA.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective monocentric study including patients aged over 75 years treated for active tuberculosis between 2008 and 2018. The frequency, type, seriousness, and causality assessment of ADRs to anti-tuberculosis treatment were compared between patients receiving PZA or not. Risk factors for ADRs were investigated using univariable and multivariable analyses by logistic regression.

RESULTS

Among the 110 patients included, 54 (49.1%) received PZA (group 1) and 56 (50.9%) did not (group 2). ADRs to anti-tuberculosis drugs occurred in 31 patients (57.4%) in groups 1 and 15 (26.8%) in group 2 (p = 0.003). PZA-related ADRs occurred in 40.7% of exposed patients. Frequency of renal ADRs was higher in group 1 (9.3% vs 0%; p = 0.026). Rates of hepatic (18.5% vs 12.5%; p = 0.38), digestive (22.2% vs 8.9%; p = 0.054), and allergic (14.8% vs 5.4%; p = 0.12) ADRs were numerically higher in group 1 although the differences were not statistically significant. Serious ADRs occurred more frequently in group 1 (24.1% vs 8.9%; p = 0.03). The use of PZA was the only independent risk factor for ADRs to anti-tuberculosis drugs (odds ratio 3.75, 95% CI 1.5-9.6; p = 0.0056). No risk factors for PZA-related ADRs were identified.

CONCLUSION

In older French patients, the use of PZA was associated with more frequent ADRs to anti-tuberculosis drugs.

Incidence of adverse reactions caused by first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and treatment outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Morocco

PURPOSE

The treatment of tuberculosis is associated with a high incidence of adverse reactions with different degrees of severity. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of adverse reactions caused by first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and to evaluate the treatment outcome of TB patients in a large region of Morocco.

METHODS

It is a multi-centric observational cohort study conducted from January 01, 2014 to January 01, 2016. A questionnaire was established for data collection from clinical charts of TB patients. The study was carried out in all the 18 centers located in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region of Morocco where tuberculosis is treated. Adverse reactions are evaluated from the start of TB treatment until its end by a specialist clinician. The treatment outcomes are evaluated, and the definitions and classifications of these outcomes are defined according to World Health Organization guidelines.

RESULTS

Among a total number of 2532 patients treated for TB, the average age is 37.3 ± 16.4 years, 10.0% of patients produced adverse reactions. 7.4% of adverse reactions are gastrointestinal, 3.7% are cutaneous, 2.0% are hepatic, 1.14% are articular, 1.07% are immunoallergic, 0.7% are neuropsychiatric, and 0.1% are ocular. The treatment outcome of TB patients is 79.1% rate for successful treatment and 15.6% for unsuccessful treatment.

CONCLUSION

Adverse reactions caused by anti-TB drugs are frequent among patients with TB. These ADRs must be followed up by a closer monitoring during anti-TB treatment period. Treatment success outcome in our study is slightly lower than the success rate target of WHO of at least 85%.

[DRESS syndrome secondary to pyrazinamide: An uncommon complication of tuberculosis treatment]

INTRODUCTION

The Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptom (DRESS) is a severe drug-induced reaction.

CASE REPORT

We report the case of a 35-year-old man treated by RHEZ for a first episode of a smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and who developed a DRESS syndrome due to pyrazinamide after twenty days of treatment, associated with a viral reactivation to Human Herpes Virus 6 (HHV6). He had a skin eruption, liver involvement and hypereosinophilia. He fully recovered after drug withdrawal, associated with local and general corticosteroids. He died two weeks after discharge.

CONCLUSIONS

Discovery of DRESS syndrome during tuberculosis treatment is an uncommon complication and requires a searching for the responsible drug. That should be difficult because tuberculosis drugs are often given as fixed-dose combination. Physicians have to bear in mind the potential role of pyrazinamide.

Rifampicin and isoniazid plasma concentrations in relation to adverse reactions in tuberculosis patients: a retrospective analysis

OBJECTIVE

High concentrations of antituberculosis (anti-TB) drugs can be associated with many adverse drug reactions (ADRs). The objective of this study was to examine the plasma concentrations of rifampicin (RMP) and isoniazid (INH) in patients with and without ADRs.

METHODS

Concentration monitoring data of patients treated with anti-TB drugs were retrospectively analyzed from 2009 to 2011. RMP and INH plasma concentrations were measured 2 and 3 h after drug administration respectively using high-performance liquid chromatography.

RESULTS

A total of 54 out of 120 patients have experienced ADRs to anti-TB drugs. The median concentrations [interquartile range (IQR)] obtained in patients with and without ADRs were 6.7 mg/l (3.7-9.9) and 5.6 mg/l (2.9-8.6) (p = 0.56) for RMP and 4.3 mg/l (2.3-5.3) and 3.1 mg/l (1.7-4.8) (p = 0.04) for INH, respectively. Related median doses (IQR) were 8.7 mg/kg (8.0-10.0) and 8.6 mg/kg (6.5-9.9) (p = 0.42) for RMP and 4.8 mg/kg (4.3-5.0) and 4.0 mg/kg (2.8-5) (p < 0.01) for INH, respectively. Concentrations above the expected range in patients with and without ADRs were not reached for RMP, but were 76% and 65% for INH, respectively. Correlation between concentrations and doses has not been established for RMP or INH. In addition, high INH concentrations showed no association with sex, age, liver injury or renal or diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

High INH concentrations were common in patients with and without ADRs whereas RMP concentrations were low or within the normal range in most patients. Further studies are required to assess the association between high INH concentrations and the occurrence of ADRs.

Pharmaceutical care for patients with anti-tuberculosis drug induced liver injury

Drug induced liver injury is one of the most important and serious adverse effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs. The clinical features of anti-tuberculosis drug induced liver injury (ATLI) ranges from asymptomatic alanine aminotransferase (ALT) elevations to acute hepatitis symptoms, and the mortality cases associated with liver failure are not rare. ATLI diminishes the effectiveness of anti-tuberculosis treatment, as they may cause non-adherence, and further leads to treatment interruption, recurrence or the emergence of drug resistance. The aim of this paper is to discuss the clinical features, mechanisms, risk factors and treatment principles for ATLI. In addition, the reasonable adjustment of anti-tuberculosis treatment and implementation of pharmaceutical care are also reviewed so as to provide thoughts on the prevention, diagnosis and timely intervention of ATLI.

[Tuberculosis: relevance of isoniazid dosage in prevention of liver side effects]

OBJECTIVE

Several recent studies have established a correlation between NAT2 polymorphism and hepatotoxicity induced by isoniazid. The objective of this work was to assess the place of isoniazid dosage, marker of acetylation phenotype, in clinical practice in the department of Haute-Garonne.

METHODS

Data from reportable disease of tuberculosis and the results of isoniazid dosage performed at the pharmacokinetics and clinical toxicology laboratory were used during the period 2009-2012.

RESULTS

The current practice of dosage is far from being systematical: only 3.9% of patients who developed tuberculosis have benefited from isoniazid dosage. The isoniazid initial posology was adapted to the acetylation capacity for only 33.3% of patients.

CONCLUSION

A decision tree was realized and used to identify populations (low metabolism) liable to benefit from isoniazid dosage.

[Hypothermia due to anti-tuberculosis drugs: first case]

Hypothermia - an adverse reaction of drug use potentially severe - requires an early diagnosis and an adapted management. We report the first case, to our knowledge of hypothermia due to anti-tuberculosis drugs.

[Spinal tuberculosis in renal transplant complicated by systemic fungal infection]

En transplantation, les complications infectieuses sont fréquentes et de diagnostic souvent délicat. Elles peuvent coexister chez le transplanté rénal rendant leur diagnostic encore plus difficile. Le but de ce cas clinique est de discuter les difficultés diagnostiques et de surveillance de deux types de pathologies assez fréquentes chez le transplanté rénal, qui sont la tuberculose et la mycose, à travers l’observation clinique d’une patiente de 24 ans transplantée rénale qui présente une spondylodiscite tuberculeuse et qui développe secondairement une septicémie à Candida non albicans à point de départ urinaire dont le seul point d’appel est la fièvre post opératoire.

Pharmacovigilance and moroccan tuberculosis public program: current situation

The objective of this work is to demonstrate the interest of integration of pharmacovigilance in Moroccan Tuberculosis Control Program (MTCP). Design and Data Collection. The integration of pharmacovigilance in MTCP was conducted in October 2012 with the Global Fund support. We compared the reports notified before and after this integration (period 1: January 2010–October 2012; period 2: October 2012–December 2013). The detection of signals was based on the Information Component available in VigiMine. We used the SPSS version 10.0 and MedCalc version 7.3 for data analysis. Results. The average number of spontaneous reports increased from 3.6 to 37.4 cases/month (P < 10⁻³). The average age was 40.7 ± 17.5 years; the sex ratio was 0.8. Hepatic reactions (32.7%) predominated during the first period, while skin reactions (24.1%) were in the second period (P = 10⁻⁴), and 40.9% of cases in the first period were serious against 15.8% in second period (P = 0.003). Nine signals were generated (hepatic enzyme increase, cholestasis, jaundice, arthralgia, acne, lower limb edema, pruritus, skin rashes, and vomiting). Conclusion. The integration of pharmacovigilance in Moroccan Tuberculosis Control Program improved the management of ADRs and detected new signals of antituberculosis drugs.