Infections of the genito-urinary tract are reported to occur more frequently in diabetic patients than in normal subjects. Persistent high levels of blood glucose may influence the progression of such infections; in addition, secondary immunodeficiency may result from poor metabolic control. In the present study we evaluated whether therapy with a thymic extract with immunomodulatory properties, such as thymomodulin, affected the number and recurrence of infections in the lower urinary tract of patients with longstanding diabetes. Sixty patients with either type 1 (aged between 18 and 70 years) or type 2 diabetes (aged between 40 and 70 years) were enrolled in the study. They were randomly allocated to the following treatments: Group A: 250 mg thymomodulin orally for 15 days and antibiotic treatment; Group B: antibiotic therapy only. Based on the results of the antibiogram, patients were treated with antibiotics for seven days. Follow-up included investigation after 3 (T3), 7 (T7), 15 (T15) and 45 (T45) days after the beginning of therapy. Comparison of clinical data at baseline showed no significant difference between groups, indicating that none of the clinical parameters could account for the differences in response to treatment. At T7, urinary infections persisted in 13 of 29 patients in group A and 19 of 31 in group B (p = N.S.), whereas at T15 there was a significant difference in the frequency of urinary infections: 4 of 29 patients in group A compared to 15 of 31 in group B (p < 0.004). A significant difference was also found when persistent or recurrent urinary infections were evaluated at T45; thus 8 of the 29 patients in group A had signs of infection compared with 17 of the 31 in group B (p < 0.02). When the duration of the infection was taken into account, only 3 of the 29 patients in group A had signs of infection for more than 15 days, compared to 15 of 31 patients in group B (p<0.004). We conclude that the therapy with thymomodulin can reduce the number and recurrence of genito-urinary tract infections in patients with diabetes.
THERAPY WITH A THYMIC EXTRACT AND REDUCED RECURRENCE OF LOW URINARY-TRACT INFECTIONS IN PATIENTS WITH DIABETES-MELLITUS
POZZILLI P
1993-01-01
Abstract
Infections of the genito-urinary tract are reported to occur more frequently in diabetic patients than in normal subjects. Persistent high levels of blood glucose may influence the progression of such infections; in addition, secondary immunodeficiency may result from poor metabolic control. In the present study we evaluated whether therapy with a thymic extract with immunomodulatory properties, such as thymomodulin, affected the number and recurrence of infections in the lower urinary tract of patients with longstanding diabetes. Sixty patients with either type 1 (aged between 18 and 70 years) or type 2 diabetes (aged between 40 and 70 years) were enrolled in the study. They were randomly allocated to the following treatments: Group A: 250 mg thymomodulin orally for 15 days and antibiotic treatment; Group B: antibiotic therapy only. Based on the results of the antibiogram, patients were treated with antibiotics for seven days. Follow-up included investigation after 3 (T3), 7 (T7), 15 (T15) and 45 (T45) days after the beginning of therapy. Comparison of clinical data at baseline showed no significant difference between groups, indicating that none of the clinical parameters could account for the differences in response to treatment. At T7, urinary infections persisted in 13 of 29 patients in group A and 19 of 31 in group B (p = N.S.), whereas at T15 there was a significant difference in the frequency of urinary infections: 4 of 29 patients in group A compared to 15 of 31 in group B (p < 0.004). A significant difference was also found when persistent or recurrent urinary infections were evaluated at T45; thus 8 of the 29 patients in group A had signs of infection compared with 17 of the 31 in group B (p < 0.02). When the duration of the infection was taken into account, only 3 of the 29 patients in group A had signs of infection for more than 15 days, compared to 15 of 31 patients in group B (p<0.004). We conclude that the therapy with thymomodulin can reduce the number and recurrence of genito-urinary tract infections in patients with diabetes.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
