Use of cycloferon in the treatment of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with mild clinical manifestations

AIM: to evaluate the efficacy of cyclopheron used in patients with mild clinical manifestations of focal and infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis (PT). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty first detected patients with PT, in whom a complex of their etiotropic therapy comprised cyclopheron, and 32 similar patients who received etiotropic agents and placebo were examined. Tuberculosis process activity was confirmed by clinical, X-ray, bacteriological, and immunological studies. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system was determined from serum cortisol concentration. The sympathoadrenal system was assessed from cardiac rhythm parameters (autonomic balance index). RESULTS: Incorporation of cyclopheron into the combined therapy of patients with PT led to increased blood cortisol concentration, higher autonomic balance index, elevated T-lymphocyte count, enhanced phagocytic activity, and lower levels of circulating immune complexes, resulting in earlier decay cavity closure and sputum negativation. CONCLUSION: Extrastress status of adaptation systems and the absence of their activating impact on immunity and inflammation are detectable in first detected patients with mild clinical manifestations of PT running in significant lung tissue fibrosis. Therapy with cyclopheron that stimulates the production of stress-induced cytokines gives rise to a stress reaction, activates immune processes, and enhances therapeutic effectiveness in this group of patients.