Clinical Studies on the Antigène Méthylique

• Published in: Japanese Journal of National Medical Services Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 120 - 124
• Main Authors: YAMASAKI, Masayasu, NAKAMURA, Shigeru, YASAKA, Shigeru, OGURA, Katsuhiko, HABU, Nobuo, YAMAMURA, Yuichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Japanese
• Published: Japanese Society of National Medical Services 1958
• ISSN: 0021-1699; 1884-8729
• DOI: 10.11261/iryo1946.12.120

Since antigène méthylique (A. M.) was extracted from tubercle bacilli by Nègre, it has been considered to promote the antituberculous resistance of the host. It was clearly demonstrated by Nouvion that clinical therapeutic effects of A. M. with antituberculous chemotherapeutics (SM or INH) markedly increased. The present paper deals with the clinical effects of A. M. Fifty six cases of TB with cavities and positive bacilli in sputa with moderately advanced lesions were treated with A. M.. Therapeutic effect was evaluated every month by erythrocyte sedimentation rate, body weight, routine blood and urine analysis, liver andr kidney function test and bacteriological examination of sputa, etc. X-ray examinations of chests were done every three months. A. M. treatment was given subcutaneously once a day, and the administration was continued for six months. The plan of the administration was as follows; (Other antituberculous substances were administrated, according to the method of the Research Committee of Japanese Antituberculous Chemotherapy, Ministry of Welfare and Health.) SM was administrated intramuscularly 1 gr. daily, 2 times a week, and INH was given orally 200-250mg daily. Fifty four cases were divided into 4 groups: group I; A. M. alone, group II: A.. M, combined with SM and INH. group III: A, M, combined with SM. group IV: A. M, combined with INH. Out of the 54 cases, 6 cases were excluded from the observation, because of fever, haemoptosis in large doses or pleural effusion with hard headache during the administration of A. M.. Group I (A. M, alone) and the other groups did not show any significant improvement in their general states. In group I, 30% of the cases changed to be negative tubercle bacilli in sputa, while in group II, 40%. Significant improvement could not be found in all cases by x-ray examinations. A. M. treatment was not so effective than the treatment of A. M. combined with SM and INH.