[Presence of antibodies against rifampicin in patients under tuberculostatic treatment].

The study was carried out in 105 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis undergoing treatment with 900 mg of rifampicin in association with 1 or 2 tuberculostatics. The drugs were given twice weekly. Between 1 and 3 investigations were performed in each patient, using the method introduced by Poole for the detection of anti-RMP antibodies. The tests were performed indifferent of the presence, or absence of clinical signs, or of biologic signs that could have suggested the development of an adverse reaction. In 34 patients (32,3%) anti-RMP antibodies were evidenced, but in only 25 of them, presenting clinical or biologicaly signs that suggested adverse reactions to rifampicin the treatment was interrupted (temporarily in 9 cases and definitively in the remaining 16). In 9 patients (8,5%) the presence of anti-RMP antibodies was demonstrated but since there were no signs of intolerance to the drug the treatment was continued. After 3--6 weeks adverse manifestations occurred also in these patients, making mandatory the definitive interruption of the treatment in 4 of them. The presence of adverse reactions without an accompanying increase in the titer of anti-RMP antibodies determined the suppression of the treatment in 3 cases. Investigation of anti-RMP antibodies has proved to be an useful method of immunological investigation, providing important data for the! interpretation of immunological mechanisms, and for the prophylaxis of adverse reactions of the immunologic type.