Incidence of adverse reactions caused by first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and treatment outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Morocco.

Purpose: The treatment of tuberculosis is associated with a high incidence of adverse reactions with different degrees of severity. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of adverse reactions caused by first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs and to evaluate the treatment outcome of TB patients in a large region of Morocco.

Methods: It is a multi-centric observational cohort study conducted from January 01, 2014 to January 01, 2016. A questionnaire was established for data collection from clinical charts of TB patients. The study was carried out in all the 18 centers located in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra region of Morocco where tuberculosis is treated. Adverse reactions are evaluated from the start of TB treatment until its end by a specialist clinician. The treatment outcomes are evaluated, and the definitions and classifications of these outcomes are defined according to World Health Organization guidelines.

Results: Among a total number of 2532 patients treated for TB, the average age is 37.3 ± 16.4 years, 10.0% of patients produced adverse reactions. 7.4% of adverse reactions are gastrointestinal, 3.7% are cutaneous, 2.0% are hepatic, 1.14% are articular, 1.07% are immunoallergic, 0.7% are neuropsychiatric, and 0.1% are ocular. The treatment outcome of TB patients is 79.1% rate for successful treatment and 15.6% for unsuccessful treatment.

Conclusion: Adverse reactions caused by anti-TB drugs are frequent among patients with TB. These ADRs must be followed up by a closer monitoring during anti-TB treatment period. Treatment success outcome in our study is slightly lower than the success rate target of WHO of at least 85%.