A 29-year-old man comes to the physician for a follow-up examination. He has had numbness and tingling of his legs for the past 10 days. Three months ago, he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and started on isoniazid and rifampin. . Neurologic testing demonstrates sensory ataxia and decreased pain sensation in the distal extremities. This patient's condition is most likely caused by:

Question

A 29-year-old man comes to the physician for a follow-up examination. He has had numbness and tingling of his legs for the past 10 days. Three months ago, he was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and started on isoniazid and rifampin. . Neurologic testing demonstrates sensory ataxia and decreased pain sensation in the distal extremities.  This patient's condition is most likely caused by:

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Isoniazid (INH) is structurally similar to pyridoxine (vitamin B6). Therefore, INH competes with pyridoxine in neurotransmitter synthesis leading to the defective synthesis of neurotransmitters like GABA. Isoniazid-induced neuropathy can usually be prevented with pyridoxine supplementation.

A 29-Year-Old Man Comes to the Physician for a Follow-Up