[The use of antioxidants in the complex therapy of patients with infiltrating pulmonary tuberculosis].

Clinical and laboratory investigations examined the possibility of a lower load of antibacterial drugs (ABD) in combination with the two antioxidants, alpha-tocopherol and sodium thiosulfate, in combined therapy of patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis. Higher efficacy of two ABDs supplemented by two antioxidants than three or more ABDs was evidenced by a shorter period of sputum negativity (1.6 +/- 0.26 and 2.7 +/- 0.27 months; p less than 0.01) and higher rates of cavity closure (95.6 +/- 4.3 and 63.2 +/- 6.7%; p less than 0.05).