Comparative Effect of ATT Alone and in Combination with Vitamin D on Physiological and Laboratory Parameters in Pulmonary TB

• Main Authors: Fahad Azam, Abida Shaheen, Faisal Faiyaz Zuberi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dow University of Health Sciences 2015-12-01
• Series: Journal of the Dow University of Health Sciences
• Online Access: http://www.jduhs.com/index.php/jduhs/article/view/319

Objectives: To evaluate the role of adjuvant Vitamin D therapy on pulmonary tuberculosis with respect to disease severity. Objectives of this study were to assess and compare the levels of Vitamin D, C -reactive protein and ESR within and between both groups before and after therapy and time taken for sputum microscopy conversion. We also compared the effect of therapy on the severity of the disease within and between both groups after therapy. Study Design & Methods: 86 tuberculosis patients were enrolled after obtaining a written informed consent. They were divided into two groups; namely Group D (Patients with ATT and adjuvant Vitamin D) and Group P (Placebo group receiving normal saline injection). Two doses of Vitamin D I/M (0.6 million units) at baseline and at week 6 of the study along with standard ATT were given to the patients in D group. Normal saline injection along with standard therapy was given to the patients in Group P. Laboratory investigations were conducted at baseline and at Day 75 of the therapy and sputum microscopy examination fortnightly till sputum conversion. Results: In the D group, at Day 75 of therapy, adjuvant Vitamin D treatment significantly increased serum Vitamin D, serum calcium, Hemoglobin, BMI and significantly decreased ESR, CRP and total white blood cell count. In the Placebo group, anti tuberculous therapy significantly increased serum Calcium, BMI and significantly reduced ESR, CRP and total white blood cell count at Day 75 of therapy. The mean number of days for sputum conversion in Group D and P was 49 days and 61 days respectively. Conclusion: Adjuvant Vitamin D therapy plays a prominent role in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis as in treatment group it profoundly produced early sputum conversion by 12 days in comparison to Placebo group which received ATT alone.