30 Nov 2023 • In a significant development, a clofazimine-ethambutol-macrolide combination demonstrated comparable results to the standard rifampicin-ethambutol-macrolide regimen, warranting consideration in the treatment of Mycobacterium avium complex pulmonary disease (MAC-PD).

• Researchers randomly assigned adult patients with MAC-PD in a 1:1 ratio to receive rifampicin or clofazimine as adjuncts to an ethambutol-macrolide backbone.
• Treatment analysis showcased an impressive 79% sputum culture conversion rate after a six-month treatment duration for both regimens.
• Users of the clofazimine combination reported a higher incidence of diarrhea, while those opting for rifampicin face a greater prevalence of arthralgia.

This positions the clofazimine-based regimen as a viable option for MAC-PD treatment, offering similar success with distinct side effect profiles.

Source: CHEST | Read full story