Entre enero de 1983 y enero de 1989, 99 pacientes diagnosticados bacteriológicamente de tuberculosis pulmonar, se trataron con dos pautas de 6 meses: isoniacida, rifampicina, pirazinamida y etambutol o estreptomicina, administradas diariamente durante 2 meses, seguido de isoniazida y rifampicina durante 4 meses más (2HRZE/4HR y 2HRZS/4HR). No finalizaron el tratamiento prescrito 16 pacientes (2 exitus, 5 por efectos tóxicos, 5 por tratamiento incorrecto y 4 no controlados). Se observó un fracaso terapéutico y ninguna recidiva tras 18 meses de control, entre los 83 restantes que finalizaron una de las dos pautas. Presentaron hepatotoxocidad dos pacientes y rash cutáneo tres. Se concluye que las pautas de 6 meses con cuatro fármacos son una alternativa válida a la de 9 meses en nuestro medio, al presentar unos porcentajes de curaciones y complicaciones similares a las de esta última.

Between January 1983 and January 1989, 99 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis confirmed by bacteriologic examination were treated with two series of 6 months with isoniazid, rifampicin, pirazinamide, and ethambutol or streptomycin administered every day during two months followed by isoniazid and rifampicin during 4 other months (2HRZE/4HR and 2HRZS/4HR). Sixteen patients did not complete the treatment protocol (2 died, 5 presented toxic reactions, 5 followed incorrectly the treatment, and 4 uncontroled). The 83 patients who completed one of the two therapeutic series were free of relapses during a follow-up period of 18 months. One patient did not respond to the treatment. Two patients presented hepatotoxicity and there were three cases of skin rash. We conclude that therapeutic series of 6 months with four drugs is a valid alternative to the therapeutic series of 9 months since both procedures have comparable percentage of cures and incidence of complications.