Keffi

Tuberculosis TB is a serious infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, leading to millions of cases and deaths worldwide, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. TB mainly affects the lungs and is worsened by HIV infection, making it a top cause of death globally. The trial investigates atorvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering drug, to see if it can improve TB treatment by reducing bacteria and lung damage, building on promising earlier studies that showed atorvastatin was safe and may enhance TB therapy outcomes. The trial is a phase IIC, multicenter, randomized, open-label study comparing four treatment groups three different daily doses of atorvastatin 20mg, 40mg, 60mg given for 16 weeks along with standard 6-month anti-TB therapy, and a control group receiving standard therapy alone. Patients are randomly assigned to one of these groups and followed closely for 12 months after starting treatment. The study aims to evaluate safety, the speed at which TB bacteria clear from sputum, improvement in chest X-rays, and lung function. Participants aged 12 to 65 with active pulmonary TB will undergo screening including medical history, HIV and diabetes testing, sputum cultures, blood tests, lung function, and pregnancy tests for women. During the study, sputum samples, blood tests, chest X-rays, and lung function will be monitored regularly. Researchers will track side effects and measure outcomes like TB disease-free survival and symptom improvement at 6 and 12 months. The long follow-up period allows for detailed assessment of treatment effects and safety.