A comparison of therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of ethionamide and prothionamide in Indian patients
Gupta, D.K.; Mital, O.P.; Agarwal, M.C.; Kansal, H.M.; Nath, S.
Journal of the Indian Medical Association 68(2): 25-29
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-5847 PMID: 326974 Document Number: 3687
A comparative double blind study was planned to assess the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of a daily dose of 500 mg. of ethionamide and prothionamide in the treatment of resistant cases of advanced pulmonary tuberculosis over a period of 6 months. Ethionamide group consisted of 82 patients and prothionamide group of 80 patients. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed by clinical improvement, sputum examination and radiographic examination. Assessment of toxicity was done by daily recording of relevant symptoms during hospitalisation and then every fortnight or earlier if the patient reported. At the end of 6 months, clinical improvement was noticed in 90.4 per cent patients in the ethionamide group and in 92.3 per cent patients in the prothionamide group. Corresponding figures for rate of sputum conversion and radiographic regression of disease were 80.8 per cent and 74.3 per cent; and 30.8 per cent and 35.9 per cent in the 2 traetment groups respectively. In the ethionamide group, 64.6 per cent patients reported with side effects as compared to 42.5 per cent patients in the prothionamide group. Gastrointestinal disturbances were more frequently encountered in patients of both the groups throughout the period of study but consistently less in the prothionamide than in the ethionamide group. It is concluded that prothionamide possesses almost equal therapeutic value but is a better tolerated drug than ethionamide.
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