Tuberculosis and Isoniazid in Steroid-Treated Asthmatic Patients
Authors: GARY R. EPLER
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1976)

Comments and Corrections1 July 1976Tuberculosis and Isoniazid in Steroid-Treated Asthmatic PatientsGARY R. EPLER, M.D., M. ANEES KHAN, M.D.GARY R. EPLER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, M. ANEES KHAN, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-85-1-129 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: In the paper by Schatz and colleagues on the prevalence of tuberculosis in a steroid-treated asthmatic population (Ann Intern Med 84:261-265, 1976), they conclude that long-term use of corticosteroids in this clinical setting does not increase the risk of active tuberculosis and that such patients, therefore, should not receive isoniazid chemoprophylaxis.The authors seem to convey the impression that the risk of tuberculosis was ascertained in 132 patients over 620 corticosteroid years. In fact, only the intermediate-strength tuberculin reactors representing 185 patient years (37 patients with mean follow-up of 5.1 years) were actually subjected to this risk...Reference1. MOULDING T: Chemoprophylaxis of tuberculosis: when is the benefit worth the risk and cost? Ann Intern Med 74:761-770, 1971 LinkGoogle Scholar1. GABRIELSON A and GOOD R: Chemical suppression of adoptive immunity. Adv Immunol 6:91-229, 1967 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. MACGREGOR R, SHEAGREN J, and LIPSETT M: Alternate day prednisone therapy: evaluation of delayed hypersensitivity responses, control of disease, and steroid side effects. N Engl J Med 280:1427-1431, 1969 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar1. Current trends: preventive therapy of tuberculosis infection. Morbid Mortal Weekly Rep 24:71-78, 1975 Google Scholar2. MAGBOOL S, ASNES R, and GREBIN B: Tine test compliance in a clinic setting. Pediatrics 55:338-391, 1975 Google Scholar1. FAUCI A, DALE D, and BALOW J: Glucocorticoid therapy: mechanisms of action and clinical considerations. Ann Intern Med 84: 304-315, 1976 LinkGoogle Scholar1. RICHERSON H: Symptomatic treatment of adults with bronchial asthma. Med Clin North Am 58:135, 1974 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. PORTNER M, THAYER K, and HARTER J: Successful initiation of alternate-day prednisone in chronic steroid dependent asthmatic patients. J Allergy Clin Immunol 49:16, 1972 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAuthors: GARY R. EPLER, M.D.; M. ANEES KHAN, M.D.Affiliations: Boston City Hospital 818 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02118 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byAdverse effects of inhaled corticosteroidsAsthma, Steroid Therapy, IsoniazidLEE B. REICHMAN, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.P., WAYMAN C. LATTIMORE, M.D., REYNARD J. MCDONALD, M.D. 1 July 1976Volume 85, Issue 1 Page: 129-131 Keywords Chemoprevention Isoniazid Tuberculin ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 July 1976 PDF downloadLoading ...