'British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin'
Abstract
Rifampicin is a crucial component of treatment regimens for tuberculosis and has been in use since the early
1970’s. It is usually considered safe. Rarely life-threatening complications like acute renal failure or acute
thrombocytopaenia may manifest during treatment with rifampicin. In our experience at the Tuberculosis
Research Centre of treating more than 8000 pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients with
rifampicin-containing regimens over the last 30 years, we are reporting 3 cases of probably rifampicininduced
acute renal failure. Despite extreme therapeutic safety of this drug the clinician must be aware of this
rare complication, which if detected early is completely reversible