Swedes Have New Antidote For T.B.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 5, 8 October 1948, Page 5

Swedes Have New Antidote For T.B.

Remarkable results obtained from the treatment of tuberculosis with the new Swedish specific PAS, or para-aminosalic acid, are reported in the “Swedish Medical Journal.” Thus far the new remedy which has been developed by Professor Joergen Lehman, head of the clinilaboratory of the Sahlgren Hospital of Gethenburg, has proved extraordinarily efficacious against secondary tuberculosis of the bow-, els. A similarly favourable effect on initial tubercular changes in the lungs might, however, also be deduced from the data already secured. .

The method, though still regarded as an experiment, is followed With great attention in Swedish medical circles. A total of 22 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis with secondary tuberculosis of the bowels, all in an advanced stage have been treated. Prior to the PAS treatment all known therapeutical methods had been tried without success. As soon as PAS was introduced, a definite improvement in the general condition was observed.' In three cases it proved only temporary, while lasting improvement in the general condition was achieved in 19 cases.

The authors emphasise that PAS may prove an invaluable aid especially in transforming critical* nonoperable cases of pulmonary tuberculosis into a condition in which therapeutical collapse surgery can be introduced.