Arginine Adjunctive Therapy in Active Tuberculosis. (3rd February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Farazi, Aliasghar; Shafaat, Omid; Sofian, Masoomeh; Kahbazi, Manijeh
• Other Names: Ottenhoff T. Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Tuberculosis research and treatment. Volume 2015(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-02-03
• Subjects: Tuberculosis -- Periodicals; Tuberculosis -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Tuberculosis -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Tuberculosis -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; 616.995005
• DOI: 10.1155/2015/205016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-150X

Abstract

Abstract : Background . Dietary supplementation has been used as a mechanism to augment the immune system. Adjunctive therapy with L-arginine has the potential to improve outcomes in active tuberculosis. Methods . In a randomized clinical trial 63 participants with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Markazi Province of Iran were given arginine or placebo for 4 weeks in addition to conventional chemotherapy. The final treatment success, sputum conversion, weight gain, and clinical symptoms after one and two months were considered as primary outcomes and secondary outcomes were ESR, CRP, and Hg. Data were collected and analyzed with SPSS software (ver. 18). Results . Arginine supplementation reduced constitutional symptoms (P = 0.032 ) in patients with smear-positive TB at the end of the first month of treatment. Arginine treated patients had significantly increased BMI at the end of the first and second months of treatment (P = 0.032 andP = 0.04 ) and a reduced CRP at the end of the first month of treatment (P = 0.03 ) versus placebo group. Conclusion . Arginine is useful as an adjunctive therapy in patients with active tuberculosis, in which the effects are more likely mediated by the increased production of nitric oxide and improved constitutional symptoms and weight gain. This trial is registered with Clinical Trials Registry of Iran:IRCT201211179855N2 .