Abstract

GALLEGO, Claudio et al. Indications and safety profile of fluoroquinolones in the treatment of tuberculosis in a general hospital of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires. Rev. am. med. respir. [online]. 2018, vol.18, n.2, pp.116-120. ISSN 1852-236X.

Introduction: Fluoroquinolones are frequently used in treatment regimes for tuberculosis both in cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, where they are an essential part of the regime, and also in cases of drug-sensitive tuberculosis with intolerance to first-line drugs. Objectives: To evaluate indications to include fluoroquinolones in the anti-tuberculosis treatment and to describe the adverse events associated with their use. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of the patients who began treatment for tuberculosis between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2016 was performed. We defined an adverse event as the condition that resulted in the suspension of a drug or the need to use specific drugs for its management. Group characteristics were compared by using the c2 test. Results: Of the 267 patients who began treatment in said period, 24 (11 men) received fluoroquinolones, representing 9% of the total population; 19 were treated with 400 mg/day of moxifloxacin and the rest with 750 mg/day of levofloxacin. In the comparison of the groups receiving fluoroquinolones versus the ones without fluoroquinolones, there were no significant differences in the percentage of male participants (46 vs. 58%), age (34.7 ± 12 vs. 35.1 ± 15 years), pulmonary involvement (58 vs. 68%) and withdrawal rate (26 vs. 21%). There was a higher proportion of Argentinians (71 vs. 44%, p = 0.012) and of HIV-positive individuals (46 vs. 8.6%) p < 0.05) in the group with fluoroquinolones vs. the group without fluoroquinolones. Fluoroquinolones were indicated in replacement of rifampicin in 9 patients (37.5%) due to its interaction with antiretroviral drugs, in 9 patients (37.5%) due to intolerance, and in 5 patients (21%) due to resistance to first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. In one individual, fluoroquinolones were indicated instead of pyrazinamide due to history of cirrhosis. The time of treatment with fluoroquinolones was 203 ± 158 days (range 30-660) with no observed adverse events related to their use. Conclusion: In the group under study, the use of fluoroquinolones was not associated with adverse events. The most frequent indications in these patients were drug interactions in HIV-positive patients and intolerance to first-line drugs.

Keywords : Tuberculosis; Fluoroquinolones; Adverse events; Moxifloxacin; Levofloxacin.