Safety and Efficacy of Four-month Short Course Regimen in Low Risk Active Tuberculosis- a Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Tuberculosis remains an important global health problem, and the world is currently not on track to end the TB epidemic by 2030. With the concerted efforts of the government and medical community, the incidence of TB in Taiwan has gradually decreased, however, Taiwan remains an endemic area for TB. The development of efficacious, safe, and shorter treatment regimens could significantly improve treatment completion rate and reduce transmission of TB. The current treatment guidelines for drug-susceptible TB from the World Health Organization (WHO), American Thoracic Society (ATS), United States Center for Diseases Control (U.S. CDC), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) and European Respiratory Society (ERS) include 2 months of isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol (HREZ), followed by 4 months of isoniazid, rifampin, and ethambutol(HRE). The current treatment regimen requires 6 months of treatment, despite being highly efficacious, requires long duration of treatment. Adherence to treatment is the major barrier which poses a negative impact to TB control, and increased cost to both the patient and the public health system. Developing an efficacious, safe and short treatment regimen can significantly improve TB management and treatment success rates.
• Newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients combined with any of the following diagnostic conditions:
‣ at least one set of sputum specimens is positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture or TB PCR test; or
⁃ pathological and histological findings of typical tuberculosis manifestations;
⁃ clinical diagnosis and Physician determines the need for complete anti-tuberculosis treatment
• Those who have had tuberculosis in the past and have been cured for at least three years can be included
• Aged over 20 years old
• Laboratory data at the time of inclusion in the study or within 14 days:
‣ Serum or plasma glutamic acid pyruvate transaminase (ALT) value ≦ three times the upper limit of normal
⁃ Serum or plasma total bilirubin ≦ 2.5 times the upper limit of normal
⁃ Serum or plasma creatinine ≦ twice the upper limit of normal or creatinine clearance greater than 30 mL/min
⁃ Heme ≧7.0 g/Dl
⁃ Platelets ≧100,000/mm3
• Patient signs consent form
• Patients who agree to join and cooperate with the county and city health bureau's urban treatment plan to ensure medication compliance.