[A comparative study of pulmonary disease due to Mycobacterium avium and M. intracellulare identified by a newly developed DNA probe (Gen-Probe].

By using DNA Probe, cases due to M. avium complex in Japan were grouped into those M. avium and M. intracellulare and their clinical patients were compared by multifactorial analysis. A total of 179 cases was studied (103 due to M. avium and 76 due to M. intracellulare). M. avium cases were found more commonly around Tokyo and north, whereas M. intracellulare cases were seen more frequently in the western part of Japan. Background factors (sex, age, past history, complications, bacterial status, mode of detection, and symptoms) were similar among the cases due to M. avium and M. intracellulare. No difference was seen in the chest X-ray. Weighing up to the disappearance of bacterial excretion revealed heavier in the quantity of bacterial excretion in M. avium cases, but not much in chemotherapy. In M. intracellulare cases on the other hand, chemotherapy played a more weighed role. In both groups, EB was weighed heavier among the drugs. Among the additionally used drugs, SM was useful in M. avium and KM in M. intracellulare. RFP was useful in combined therapy. The usefulness of INH was lower. In areas western to Osaka and vicinity, MAC was reported to exert favorable effect. In case this is true, higher prevalence of M. intracellulare and the use of KM, EB, RFP in these areas may explain such phenomena.