A new pilot study explored whether adding ibuprofen to treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) could improve patient outcomes. While the anti-inflammatory drug did not increase cure rates or improve lung recovery compared with standard TB therapy alone, researchers found it reduced several inflammatory markers linked to severe disease. These findings suggest ibuprofen may help regulate the body’s immune response, although this did not translate into better clinical results in the small trial. Experts believe the low dose and limited number of participants may have influenced the outcome. Larger placebo-controlled studies are now needed to determine whether higher doses or similar host-directed therapies can improve treatment for drug-resistant TB.
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