%0 Journal Article %A Lotfi Nacef %A Omar Saighi %T Pulmonary tuberculosis relapses: A report of 44 cases %D 2011 %J European Respiratory Journal %P p2603 %V 38 %N Suppl 55 %X Introduction: TB relapse is defined as any case of pulmonary tuberculosis treated, cured, and in whom TB is diagnosed on the basis of a smear or culture bacteriologically positive. it incidence in Algeria is 4.97%.Aims and objectives: The aim of our study is to clarify the characteristics of the epidemiology, predisposing factors and diagnosis aspect of TB relapse.Methods: Our retrospective study concerned 44 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis relapses confirmed among 559 patients, treated for pulmonary tuberculosis in the TB control unit of Blida between January 2005 and December 2009.Results: Our series has assembled 27 men and 17 women with a mean age of 37 years, 86% of cases have already been treated for over one year for pulmonary tuberculosis. Comorbidities were found in 39% of cases, including diabetes (16% of cases) and psychiatric disease (6% of cases). The study notes the occurrence of relapse in 41% of cases during the first quarter of the year. Bacteriological confirmation of relapse by smear sputum was positive in 95% of the cases, the culture of BK was contributory in 5% of cases. The radiological involvement is bilateral in 50% of cases, moderate extent in 60% of cases, and with excavations in 93% of the cases. The second line TB treatment (2SRHZE/1RHZE/5RH) was introduced in all patients with a good outcome in the majority of cases, however we regret one treatment failure, and 4 cases of surrendering treatment. The radiological progression after 8 months of treatment, notes a cure without sequelae in 23 cases and with sequelae in 14 cases.Conclusions: We emphasize the frequency of relapse tuberculosis and their need for adequate care with regular monitoring to avoid the transition to chronicity. %U