Pattern of Adverse Drug Reactions and Performed Monitoring Laboratory-Tests in Patients Receiving Anti Tuberculosis Treatment in an Endemic Region, Zabol

Background: Efficient anti TB treatment considered crucial globally. Anti TB drugs can cause various adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Clinical and laboratory monitoring will decrease rate of these ADRs, improve patient safety as well as drug adherence and treatment outcome. Methods: In this cross-sectional study total of 136 newly diagnosed TB patients were included. All patients received standard anti-TB 4 drug regimen. Predesigned data collection forms were used to gather patient’s lab data as well as clinical symptoms they experienced during treatment course. Monthly follow up visits or phone calls were also performed by investigators and all health issues were recorded. Results: The majority of our patients aged over 70-year-old. About 54% of them were female. We recorded at least one ADR in 80.8% of patients, and hepatic-gastrointestinal (GI) ADRs ranked first (64.7%). Although ADRs were more common in women and patients over 70-year-old, but there was no statistically significant relationship between sex or age and rate of ADRs (P> 0.05). We also observed that recommended baseline laboratory tests for monitoring anti TB treatment was not performed in any of our patients, except complete blood count (CBC) that was performed in 11 cases. This led to diagnoses of anemia and thrombocytopenia in one case. Conclusion: The majority of our patients experienced ADR. Recommended drug monitoring tests that could guarantee safe and effective treatment were not performed routinely in our TB management centres. These facts highlighted the importance of improving surveillance system for TB management based on national standards.