Investigating clinical and laboratory findings in patients with drug-resistant and drug-sensitive tuberculosis in Masih Daneshvari Hospital

Although tuberculosis (TB) is often curable, it remains one of the top 10 major causes of death worldwide. Unfortunately, in recent decades, the emergence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains resistant to anti-TB drugs (DR-TB) is one of the most critical factors in the treatment of tuberculosis. Therefore, the present study addresses the epidemiologic factors, laboratory and clinical findings affecting the development of tuberculosis and, in particular, resistant forms of it. In this study, laboratory and clinical data were collected from 67 patients with drug-susceptible TB (DS-TB), 20 patients with DR-TB admitted to the Masih Daneshvari hospital and 30 healthy controls during one year (2015-16). The disease was confirmed by an infectious specialist according to clinical history, physical examination, radiological and laboratory findings. TB patients were divided into two groups: DS-TB and DR-TB, based on how they responded to treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software. The incidence of DR-TB is associated with several factors, including history of previous treatment and contact with the TB patient. There were also significant differences between the three groups regarding the rate of erythrocyte sedimentation (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and adenosine deaminase (ADA). According to the results, it is recommended that in high risk patients (with a history of previous treatment and contact with the TB patient, etc.), treatment should be done with greater accuracy and sensitivity. Also, attention to the differences in the clinical and laboratory findings of two DS and DR-TB groups may help in diagnosis and better treatment of the disease.