News
Post-tuberculosis lung disease: New approaches to prevention and treatment
3 Apr 2025
A comprehensive review highlights the long-term consequences of tuberculosis and the need for improved strategies for dealing with the disease.
The Institute for Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at LMU Hospital, in collaboration with international partners, has published a comprehensive overview of post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine as part of the International Post-Tuberculosis Symposium . The article, to which Dr. Andrea Rachow from the Tropical Institute contributed, highlights the long-term consequences of tuberculosis and emphasizes the urgent need for improved prevention, diagnosis, and care strategies.
"Unlike active tuberculosis, PTLD is no longer infectious," explains Rachow. "Nevertheless, those affected suffer from significant health and social limitations." Tuberculosis can leave scars in the lung tissue and cause permanent damage to the airways, which impairs lung function and increases the risk of chronic breathing difficulties.
Unlike active tuberculosis, PTLD is no longer infectious. Nevertheless, those affected suffer from significant health and social limitations.ANDREA RACHOW
Studies show that up to 50 per cent of survivors of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) have impaired lung function – with 10 to 15 per cent suffering from severe impairment. Although there is a growing number of studies on the frequency and clinical patterns of lung damage and resulting functional limitations in tuberculosis survivors, as well as their impact on everyday life and working life, there are still considerable gaps in our knowledge. Particularly under-researched areas include the mechanisms of disease development, preventive measures, effective screening and diagnostic procedures, and the costs, feasibility and effectiveness of treatment strategies.
In order to better understand PTLD and optimise care, further long-term observational studies are needed to document in detail the course of the disease, associated risk factors and long-term consequences of PTLD. Interventional studies are particularly urgent in order to develop targeted prevention and treatment measures for the first time. However, the respective circumstances of local health systems, especially in the Global South, must be taken into account in order to create practical and sustainable solutions that are accessible to all patients.
Jamilah Meghji et al.: Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease: Towards Prevention, Diagnosis, and Care. The Lancet Respiratory Medicine 2025