NITROGEN AND HELLIUM-NEON LASER THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF DRUG-RESISTANT PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

抄録

The failure of drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis is very frustrating for the physicia n. In recent years scientists in Russia (the former USSR) have reported on and developed a method of endocavitary nitrogen laser irradiation of patients having the cavitary form of pulmonary tuberculosis. The nitrogen laser acts by emitting ultra violet light which is bacteriocidal for tuberculosis bacilli. The present study reports on ten patients with pulmonary tuberculosis which was sputum positive for acid fast bacilli, The patients included drug-resistant cases. The nitrogen laser probe was introduced directly into the tuberculous cavity percutaneously. In order to improve the imnune mechanisms of these patients, helium-neon laser was also given intravenously. Three out of ten patients became sputum negative for M. tuberculosis. However, further extensive studies and research work is required to evaluate this new modality of therapy in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis.