BMC Public Health (Jun 2012)

Effect of scheduled monitoring of liver function during anti-Tuberculosis treatment in a retrospective cohort in China

  • Wu Shanshan,
  • Xia Yinyin,
  • Lv Xiaozhen,
  • Zhang Yuan,
  • Tang Shaowen,
  • Yang Zhirong,
  • Tu Dehua,
  • Deng Peiyuan,
  • Cheng Shiming,
  • Wang Xiaomeng,
  • Yuan Yanli,
  • Liu Feiying,
  • Hu Daiyu,
  • Zhan Siyan

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-12-454
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 1
p. 454

Abstract

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Abstract Background Data on effect of regular liver function monitoring during anti-TB treatment is limited in China. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of scheduled liver function monitoring on identification of asymptomatic liver damage and anti-TB treatment outcomes during anti-TB treatment. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed based on a national-level cohort study. A total of 273 patients developing liver dysfunction were divided into two groups, 111 patients who were diagnosed through scheduled liver function test within two months after initiation of anti-TB treatment formed scheduled monitoring group, others who were diagnosed due to developing symptoms formed passive detection group (n = 162). The two groups were compared through clinical features, prognosis of liver dysfunction and impact on anti-TB treatment using propensity score weighting analysis. Results 33.3% of 273 patients did not have any clinical symptoms, including 8 with severe hepatotoxicity. 1.8% in scheduled monitoring group and 11.1% in passive detection group required hospitalization (P = 0.004). Regarding the prognosis of liver dysfunction, most patients recovered, no death happened in scheduled monitoring group while 3 died in passive detection group. In terms of impact on anti-TB treatment, 35.1% in scheduled monitoring group and 56.8% in passive detection group changed their anti-TB treatment (P = 0.001). Conclusions Scheduled monitoring is effective in identifying asymptomatic liver damage, reducing hospitalization rate and improving compliance of anti-TB treatment.

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