Homeopathy 2014; 103(02): 97-107
DOI: 10.1016/j.homp.2013.12.003
Original Paper
Copyright © The Faculty of Homeopathy 2013

Homeopathic treatment in addition to standard care in multi drug resistant pulmonary tuberculosis: a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled clinical trial

Kusum S Chand
1   Department of Homeopathy, Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital, Vaishali, Ghaziabad, NCR, U.P., India
2   Nehru Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, New Delhi, India
,
Raj K Manchanda
3   Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi, India
4   Directorate of ISM & Homeopathy, New Delhi, India
,
Renu Mittal
3   Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, New Delhi, India
,
Sudhir Batra
4   Directorate of ISM & Homeopathy, New Delhi, India
,
Jayant N Banavaliker
5   Rajan Babu Institute for Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis, New Delhi, India
,
Indra De
2   Nehru Homeopathic Medical College & Hospital, New Delhi, India
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Received25 June 2013
revised08 October 2013

accepted08 December 2013

Publication Date:
18 December 2017 (online)

Preview

Background: Multi drug resistant-tuberculosis (MDR-TB) [resistant to Isoniazid and Rifampicin] is a major global public health problem. In India the incidence is rising in spite of implementation of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program. Standard MDR-TB drugs are second generation antibiotics taken for 24–27 months. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of add on homeopathic intervention to the standard MDR-TB regimen (SR).

Methods: A randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study was conducted from 2003 to 2008. 120 diagnosed MDR-TB patients (both culture positive and negative) were enrolled and randomized to receive Standard Regimen + individualized homeopathic medicine (SR + H) or Standard Regimen + identical placebo (SR + P). The medicines have been used in infrequent doses. The outcome measures were sputum conversion, changes in chest X-ray (CXR), hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), weight gain, and clinical improvement.

Results: There was an improvement in all the outcome measures as per intention to treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses. ITT analyses revealed sputum culture conversion from positive to negative in 23 (38.3%) in SR + H; 23 (38.3%) patients in SR + P group; (p = 0.269) and 27 (55.1); 21 (42.8%), p = 0.225 as PP analyses. The mean weight gain in SR + H group was 2.4 ± 4.9 and in SR + P was 0.8 ± 4.4; [p = 0.071], reduction in ESR in SR + H was −8.7 ± 13.2; SR + P was 3.9 ± 15.4 [p = 0.068]. The mean increase in hemoglobin was by 0.6 ± 1.7 in SR + H & 0.3 ± 2.3 [p = 0.440] in SR + P group at 95% confidence interval. Statistically significant improvement was seen in CXR in 37 (61.7%) in SR + H and 20 (33.3%) patients in SR + P group (p = 0.002).

Subgroup analyses of culture positive patients showed statistically significant improvement in CXR (p = 0.0005), weight gain (p = 0.026), increase in hemoglobin (p = 0.017) and reduction in ESR (p = 0.025) with add on homeopathy. The cure rate was 11.4% more in SR + H group as compared to placebo group. Change in sputum culture conversion, was not statistically significant.

Conclusion: Add on homeopathy in addition to standard therapy appears to improve outcome in MDR-TB. Larger scale studies using a standardized homeopathic treatment regime should be conducted.