Successful rapid oral desensitization for dual hypersensitivity to isoniazid and rifampin while treating central nervous system tuberculosis

Abstract

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system (CNS-TB) is a critical disease with poor prognosis if not diagnosed and treated early. A regimen of drugs with good CNS penetration is required for treatment. Treatment options are limited in case of hypersensitivity reaction of the recommended regimen. We are reporting a rare instance where a patient developed hypersensitivity to both first line agents (isoniazid and rifampin) for CNS-TB and was successfully desensitized against both these medications to complete the treatment course using the rapid desensitization process. There have been reported cases of desensitization to anti tuberculous medications in cases with pulmonary tuberculosis and hypersensitivity reaction. In this review article we discuss the prior used methods of slow and rapid desensitization in case on non-CNS tuberculosis infections. This is the first reported case to use similar method of rapid desensitization in treatment of central nervous system infection.

Keywords

• Hypersensitivity
• CNS infection
• CNS tuberculosis
• rapid desensitization
• slow desensitization