Dialyzable leukocyte extract (transfer factor) in the treatment of superinfected fistulating tuberculosis of the bone.

The effect of the addition of dialyzable leukocyte extract (DLE)(transfer factor) to tuberculostatic drugs in the treatment of superinfected fistulating tuberculosis of bones and joints was evaluated in a controlled study. Eleven patients whose disease had persisted for a mean of 20 +/- 4.8 years and had proved to be resistant to antibiotics and tuberculostatic drugs were treated with an additional combined tuberculostatic drug regimen consisting of isoniazide, ethambutol, and rifampin for a control period of 2 years; after this therapy had failed as judged by the persistence of the superinfected fistulae and of the symptoms, DLE was added to the regimen.

Complementary immunotherapy in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis.

The authors present a retrospective study of 492 cases of chronic osteomyelitis treated with active immunotherapy to complement surgical and antibiotic treatment. The systematic application of this treatment, which is based on the use of antistaphylococcal vaccines and/or auto-vaccines resulted in the osteomyelitic process being cured in 80 per cent of cases, with complete closure of the fistulae maintained for at least three years. The authors also report the preliminary results obtained with passive immunotherapy in twenty-six patients with chronic osteomyelitis that had proved resistant to all other forms of treatment.

[Modern trends in the treatment of chronic osteomyelitis (author's transl)].

The author presents 360 patients with chronic osteomyelitis, treated with auto genous staphylococcus inoculation. In several cases there was additional surgery. The probable therapeutic effects of inoculation related to the special pathogenicity of staphylococcus aureus is discussed.