Effectiveness of intravenous isoniazid and ethambutol administration in patients with new smear positive drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis with tuberculous meningoencephalitis and HIV co-infection in the intensive phase of treatment

The <b>aim</b> of our study was to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous (i/v) isoniazid (H) and ethambutol (E) administration in patients with new smear positive drug-susceptible pulmonary TB with TB meningoencephalitis(TM) and HIV co-infection in the intensive phase of treatment. <b>Material and Methods:</b> 54 patients with TB/TM and HIV co-infection were enrolled in this study. Group1 included 23 patients with TB/TM and HIV co-infection treated with E and H i/v, while rifampicin and pyrazinamide were prescribed orally. The group 2 consisted of 31 patients–treated with 1st-line anti-TB drugs orally. Concentrations of H and E in blood serum were detected using a chromatographic method. <b>Results:</b> A significant improvement in clinical symptoms and X-ray signs in patients treated i/v with H and E was observed compared with the group 2. In addition,9(39.1±10.4%) patients died up to six months when H and E were prescribed i/v compared with 22(70.9±8.1%) in the group 2 (p&lt;0.05). <b>Conclusions:</b> As a result of the i/v administration of H and E, the basic clinical symptoms and X-ray signs of TM in the examined patients were more likely to reverse compared with those who were administered anti-TB drugs orally.I/v H and E chemotherapy during the intensive phase reduces the mortality rate of patients compared with the oral administration of the drugs mentioned above.I/v H and E administration is accompanied by significantly higher mean serum concentrations of drugs.I/v H and E administration in patients with TM does not cause additional side effects compared with the group2.