Vitamin D as adjunctive therapy in refractory pulmonary tuberculosis: a case report

South Med J. 2009 Jun;102(6):649-52. doi: 10.1097/SMJ.0b013e3181a5d37e.

Abstract

Vitamin D regulates calcium homeostasis in the body and may play a major role in regulating immune responses to tuberculosis (TB). Pilot studies suggest that vitamin D supplementation may improve outcomes in pulmonary TB (PTB), but clinical evidence using vitamin D in TB treatment is limited. We present a case of vitamin D deficiency in a woman with refractory drug-susceptible PTB. Antituberculous therapy and the correction of vitamin D deficiency resulted in clinical and microbiologic improvement at month 13 of her treatment. The basis for vitamin D/TB interactions and a brief literature review are discussed. Data from controlled trials are needed to evaluate the efficacy of vitamin D as adjunctive TB therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / complications
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Vitamin D / therapeutic use*
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / drug therapy
  • Vitamins / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Vitamins
  • Vitamin D