Abstract: ObjectiveTo observe the efficacy and safety of Rifapentine to patients with new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods129 elderly patients with new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were enrolled and randomized into the treatment group（2HL₂ZE/4HL₂） and the control group（2HRZE/4HR）. We observed the sputum negative conversion rate, chest X-ray improvement rate, one-year relapse rate and the side effects of anti-tuberculosis drugs. ResultsThe sputum negative conversion rates in the treatment group were 87.19% at 3 months, and 98.4% at the end of therapeutic course, while those of the control group were 85.2% and 96.3% respectively. The difference in the sputum negative conversion rates between the two groups were not statistically significant（χ²₁=0.09，χ²₂=0.02，P＞0.05）. The improvement rates of chest X-ray were 90.3% and 87.0% respectively without significant difference（P＞0.05）. The cavity closure rate were 36.7% in the treatment group, and 32.6% in the control group without statistical difference between two groups（P＞0.05）. One-year bacteriological relapse rate were 6.4% and 7.4% respectively without significant difference（P＞0.05）. The gastroinsterstinal reaction rate were 19.4% in the treatment group and 38.9% in the control group with statistically significant difference（χ²=5.41 P＜0.05），and the rate of liver function damage were 4.8% in the treatment group and 24.1% in control group with statistically significant difference（χ²=7.44 P＜0.01）. ConclusionsThe treatment efficacy of regimen including Rifapentine was the same as that of regimen including Rifampin to elderly patients with new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis. The side effects rate of Rifapentine was very lower than that of Rifampin. It could be recommended to use widely further.

Key words: Pulmonary，tuberculosis/drug therapy, Aged, Rifampin, Rifapentine