Hi,I am Dr. Amitkumar Sharma (Internal Medicine Specialist). I will be looking into your question and guiding you through the process. Please write your question below.
Hi, I am a 33 yr old female in the uk and have been trying to concieve for the last 2 years.i recently had a diagnostic laproacopy wth dye test in delhi and doctor advised pcr and biopsy for tb.result of pcr negative but culture for mycobacterium positive after 2 weeks.she started me on akt 4 which I started a week ago when I came back to uk but I had delayed periods and have tested positive for pregnancy in 2 different home tests .i did have primary tb when I was 10yrs old which was treated wth full course medication.i have no symptoms of tb ...no irregular or missed period.i want to know is it ok to continue wth att medicines and are they safe and how conclusive are biopsy tests for tb when pcr negative.thanks
One of the medicines in AKT-4 is not safe during pregnancy. AKT-4 consists of a combination of four medicines Isoniazid, Rifampicin. Ethambutol and Pyrazinamide which is commonly prescribed to treat tuberculosis. There is a documented evidence that the pyrazinamide can cause harmful effects in the new born (spina bifida) if taken during pregnancy.
Hence, consult your doctor for this issue so that you may be asked to continue treatment without taking pyrazinamide. Culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis (Lowenstein-Jensen medium) is the gold standard method of detecting tuberculosis. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR test for tuberculosis are 93 and 84%, respectively. Thus, although it is time consuming, culture remains the standard laboratory confirmatory test for tuberculosis.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Mohammed Taher Ali, General & Family Physician
I find this answer helpful
You found this answer helpful
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer.
For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service
[Sample answer]
We use cookies in order to offer you most relevant experience and using this website you acknowledge that you have already read and understood our
Privacy Policy
Can Akt 4 Be Taken During Pregnancy?
Hi, One of the medicines in AKT-4 is not safe during pregnancy. AKT-4 consists of a combination of four medicines Isoniazid, Rifampicin. Ethambutol and Pyrazinamide which is commonly prescribed to treat tuberculosis. There is a documented evidence that the pyrazinamide can cause harmful effects in the new born (spina bifida) if taken during pregnancy. Hence, consult your doctor for this issue so that you may be asked to continue treatment without taking pyrazinamide. Culture for mycobacterium tuberculosis (Lowenstein-Jensen medium) is the gold standard method of detecting tuberculosis. The sensitivity and specificity of PCR test for tuberculosis are 93 and 84%, respectively. Thus, although it is time consuming, culture remains the standard laboratory confirmatory test for tuberculosis. Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Mohammed Taher Ali, General & Family Physician