Tuberculous pleural effusion: experience with six months of treatment with isoniazid and rifampicin.

BACKGROUND Tuberculous pleurisy is associated with small numbers of bacteria. Due to the low rate of primary resistance to antituberculous drugs a two-drug regimen was used to treat the condition. METHODS Patients received isoniazid 5 mg/kg and rifampicin 10 mg/kg daily for six months. Clinical, radiological, and haematological assessments were performed during treatment and patients were followed up for a median period of 41 (range 6-96) months. RESULTS One hundred and thirty patients were studied with a mean age of 27 (range 11-53) years. Seven were withdrawn due to parenchymal disease and eight were lost to follow up during the treatment period. Side effects during treatment were frequent (20.7%), but only three patients required a change in medication. No treatment failures were observed. One hundred and fifteen patients completed therapy and were followed up for 41 (range 6-96) months with no evidence of a relapse. CONCLUSIONS Tuberculous pleurisy responds well to a two-drug regimen of antituberculous therapy given for six months.