Predictors of the closure of tuberculosis infiltrate decay cavities during the conservative treatment of infiltrative tuberculosis

Abstract We studied predictors of the closure of tuberculosis infiltrate decay cavities (DC) in the affected regions in patients with infiltrative lung tuberculosis (ILT) by clinical examination. X-ray laboratory and psychological methods 103 patients were under observation for 12 months and received standard therapy. The closure was achieved during the first 4 months in 74 patients but did not occur in 29 ones. Logistic regression analysis showed that the probability of DC closure in the first 4 months decreases in parallel to the initial character of complaints of "chest pain", the size of tuberculosis infiltrates determined in X-ray study, results of thymol test, content of lipid peroxides in expirates, depressive "fatigue" and "suicidal thoughts". The probability of DC cavity during 4 months increased with the initial "number of destructions" in the infiltrate (by X-ray) and depressive "loss of working ability". Results of regression analysis permit to predict the closure of DC during the first 4 months with sensitivity 98.3% and specificity 82.4%.