Effectiveness and Safety of New Chemotherapy Regimens in Patients with HIV-associated MDR TB and Viral Hepatitis C

The objective: to study the effectiveness and safety of new chemotherapy regimens at the end of the intensive phase in the patients suffering from multiple drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB), concurrent HIV infection (HIV), and chronic hepatitis C (HCV). Subjects and Methods. The effectiveness and safety of MDR TB treatment regimens containing bedaquiline, linezolid, delamanid, and clofazimine in various combinations were studied in 68 patients with the triple infectious disease MDR TB/HIV/HCV. The control group included 64 patients receiving treatment with the regimens free of these drugs. Results. Bacteriological effectiveness was achieved in all patients. In the group of new drugs, the timing was shorter: culture conversion after taking 30 doses was registered in 70.6% versus 43.8% of patients in the control group. Positive radiographic changes such as decreased focal infiltrative shadows, were noted in 41.1% versus 25% of patients, cavity healing was observed in 18.1% versus 5.1% of patients, respectively. The incidence of adverse reactions (ARs) was higher in the control group (90.6% vs. 52.9%). In both groups, the most common adverse event outcome was discontinuation of one anti-tuberculosis drug (69% vs. 42%). Conclusion. Chemotherapy regimens containing new anti-tuberculosis drugs are more effective and have a more favorable safety profile.