Homeopathic treatment in addition to standard care in multi drug resistant
pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical
trial.
Author(s): Chand KS(1), Manchanda RK(2), Mittal R(3), Batra S(4), Banavaliker JN(5), De
I(6).
Affiliation(s): Author information:
(1)Department of Homeopathy, Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad,
NCR, U.P., India; Nehru Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Electronic address: kusumschand@hotmail.com.
(2)Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi, India; Directorate of ISM
& Homeopathy, New Delhi, India. Electronic address: rkmanchanda@gmail.com.
(3)Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi, India. Electronic
address: renumittal8@gmail.com.
(4)Directorate of ISM & Homeopathy, New Delhi, India. Electronic address:
drsbatra2000@gmail.com.
(5)Rajan Babu Institute for Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, New Delhi, India.
(6)Nehru Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Publication date & source: 2014, Homeopathy. , 103(2):97-107
BACKGROUND: Multi drug resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB) [resistant to Isoniazid
and Rifampicin] is a major global public health problem. In India the incidence
is rising in spite of implementation of Revised National Tuberculosis Control
Program. Standard MDR-TB drugs are second generation antibiotics taken for 24-27
months. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of add on
homeopathic intervention to the standard MDR-TB regimen (SR).
METHODS: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was conducted from
2003 to 2008. 120 diagnosed MDR-TB patients (both culture positive and negative)
were enrolled and randomized to receive Standard Regimen + individualized
homeopathic medicine (SR + H) or Standard Regimen + identical placebo (SR + P).
The medicines have been used in infrequent doses. The outcome measures were
sputum conversion, changes in chest X-ray (CXR), hemoglobin, erythrocyte
sedimentation rate (ESR), weight gain, and clinical improvement.
RESULTS: There was an improvement in all the outcome measures as per intention to
treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. ITT analyses revealed sputum culture
conversion from positive to negative in 23 (38.3%) in SR + H; 23 (38.3%) patients
in SR + P group; (p = 0.269) and 27 (55.1); 21 (42.8%), p = 0.225 as PP analyses.
The mean weight gain in SR + H group was 2.4 ± 4.9 and in SR + P was 0.8 ± 4.4;
[p = 0.071], reduction in ESR in SR + H was -8.7 ± 13.2; SR + P was 3.9 ± 15.4
[p = 0.068]. The mean increase in hemoglobin was by 0.6 ± 1.7 in SR + H &
0.3 ± 2.3 [p = 0.440] in SR + P group at 95% confidence interval. Statistically
significant improvement was seen in CXR in 37 (61.7%) in SR + H and 20 (33.3%)
patients in SR + P group (p = 0.002). Subgroup analyses of culture positive
patients showed statistically significant improvement in CXR (p = 0.0005), weight
gain (p = 0.026), increase in hemoglobin (p = 0.017) and reduction in ESR
(p = 0.025) with add on homeopathy. The cure rate was 11.4% more in SR + H group
as compared to placebo group. Change in sputum culture conversion, was not
statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: Add on homeopathy in addition to standard therapy appears to improve
outcome in MDR-TB. Larger scale studies using a standardized homeopathic
treatment regime should be conducted.
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