Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2004-1-20
pubmed:abstractText
Tuberculous pleuritis tends to develop fibrosis to a high degree. The use of corticosteroids enhances the absorption of pleural effusions, the residual pleural thickening, however, remains unaffected. Whether repeated chest tapping in patients with persistent effusions in addition to antituberculous therapy favourably influences the outcome is not known. Therefore, patients with tuberculous pleuritis were examined in a prospective, randomized study. After confirmation of the diagnosis patients were randomized in group A with antituberculous treatment (Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamid, and Streptomycin) alone or in group B with additional pleural tapping for four weeks (phase I). In phase II patients in both groups with persistent effusions received oral prednisolone (0,75 mg/kg body weight) tapered over four weeks. The extent of pleural effusions was determined by chest X-ray. Roentgenological changes were evaluated at the end of the observation period. Lung function tests by spirometry were performed after two, four, eight weeks, and at the last follow up visit. At the end of phase I no pleural effusion could be observed roentgenologically in group A in 7 of 16 patients (44 %) and in group B in 10 of 16 patients (63 %) (p = n. s.). At the end of phase II extensive residual thickening was observed in one patient (group B) necessitating pleurectomy six months later. The lung function parameters demonstrated a restrictive pattern, which did not differ significantly at the end of the observation period. After a mean follow-up period of four months none or minimal residual changes could be observed radiologically in the remaining patients. In summary, despite the low number of patients examined, this study shows that in patients with tuberculous pleuritis repeated chest tapping in addition to antituberculous medication does not seem to benefit the patient, as neither the degree of residual pleural thickening nor the restrictive lung function impairment seem to be influenced significantly.
pubmed:language
ger
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jan
pubmed:issn
0934-8387
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
58
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
23-7
pubmed:dateRevised
2009-4-7
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2004
pubmed:articleTitle
[Pleuritis tuberculosa - therapeutic value of repeated chest tapping].
pubmed:affiliation
August-Bebel-Str. 71, 04275 Leipzig, Germany. gerhard.hoheisel@t-online.de
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Clinical Trial, Comparative Study, English Abstract, Randomized Controlled Trial