J. E. Leibold
Apr 1, 1966
Citations
4
Influential Citations
214
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences
Abstract
The antituberculosis activity of ethambutol [dextro-2,2'-(ethylenediiminol-di-1-butanol dihydrochloride] was first reported in 1961 by Thomas, et a1 , who also established tha t the biological activity of the racemic mixture was totally accounted for on the basis of the dextro isomer. The synthesis and chemical characteristics of this compound were described by Wilkinson et a1 The first clinical studies were conducted with the racemic mixture, and severe toxic ocular symptoms were reported by Carr and Henkind and Carr when this dl isomer was used. Subsequent investigations with the dextro isomer by Bobrowitz and Gakulanathan, Bobrowitz, et a1 , Corpe. Pt a l , Place and Thomas; and Pyle et a1 indicate a lower incidence of eye toxicity than tha t reported for the racemate. These investigators found a reversible reduced visual acuity in a limited number of patients. When the d a t r o form was made available to the National Jewish Hospital in Denver for investigation in 1961, a program of pretreatment eye examination was established for all patients who were to receive the drug and these patients were followed throughout therapy. This paper reports the results of our study with ethambutol and the incidence of ocular toxicity from 1961 to 1965.