Investigation of Rifampin Serum Levels in Patients Diagnosed with Tuberculosis Treated with the Drug Regimen Mazandaran, 2020-2021

Background and purpose: Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death from infectious diseases worldwide. Rifampin, a drug used to treat tuberculosis, has recently come under the spotlight. It is particularly important for the treatment of tuberculosis, and a reduction in its bioavailability has a significant impact on patient treatment and drug resistance. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the serum levels of rifampin in patients with tuberculosis. Materials and methods: The current study is descriptive-cross-sectional. In the years 2019-2020, plasma samples were collected from 30 patients treated for tuberculosis in educational-therapeutic centers in Mazandaran province. Only patients between 18 and 65 years of age who had been definitively diagnosed with tuberculosis, who were not pregnant or breastfeedingand who were being treated with a drug regimen were included in the study. Rifampin levels in the collected samples were measured using HPLTC. Results: According to the data, 30% of patients had a rifampin level of less than 8, while 16.7% had a rifampin level of more than 24. The study found that there was a significant association between rifampin serum levels and full or empty stomach status. However, there was no significant association between rifampin serum level and the age, sex, liver toxicity, and mortality rate of the patients. Conclusion: It has been observed that many tuberculosis patients do not reach the required rifampin serum level, which may lead to treatment failure. To minimize this failure, it is recommended to take the drug on an empty stomach.