The treatment of endometrial tuberculosis with streptomycin and PAS: A report to a Joint Sub-Committee of the British Tuberculosis Association and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Abstract

A controlled trial was started in 1950 of streptomycin and PAS in the treatment of endometrial tuberculosis. The dosage employed was 1 g. of the calcium chloride complex of streptomycin daily for 84 consecutive days and 3 g. of the sodium salt of PAS four times daily over the same period. Patients with any type of active extragenital tuberculosis were excluded. Of the 113 previously untreated patients in the trial, 61 chosen at random were treated and the remaining 52 were allocated to an untreated group. In 7 of the treated patients the follow-up after treatment was less than one year; and in 4 treatment had to be discontinued because of toxic manifestations. Another 6 refused treatment or failed to complete it. Forty-three treated patients were observed for a year from the start of treatment; and only 5 showed bacteriological evidence of recurrence. Eight untreated patients were followed for less than a year; and 11 were removed from the trial because of clinical deterioration and given immediate treatment. 33 were followed for a year and in 25 the endometrium still showed bacteriological (14) or histological (11) evidence of tuberculosis. The results indicate that chemotherapy should be used in patients with proved endometrial tuberculosis.