The Use of Steroids in Tuberculous Patients with Untoward Reactions to Anti-Microbial Therapy

¹ Assistant Attending Physician, Department of Medicine, B. S. Pollak Hospital for Chest Diseases.

This is a report of five cases of active pulmonary tuberculosis with coexistent untoward drug reactions to one or more antituberculous agents, who were treated by combined steroid and anti-microbial therapy. The impressive results obtained were markedly superior to the previous medical regimen. There was no injurious effect on the underlying tuberculous process, as noted on serial x-ray films of the chest and sputum cultures over a period of twenty-one to twenty-six months following steroid treatment. The steroids are a potent addition to the armamentarium of the clinician in treating tuberculous patients who manifest untoward drug reactions to the chemotherapeutic agents. However, one must be alert to the side effects and physiologic effects of the steroids which may be injurious to the patient.