Pilot randomized trial of nutritional supplementation in patients with tuberculosis and HIV-tuberculosis coinfection receiving directly observed short-course chemotherapy for tuberculosis

Objective To investigate the effects of nutritional supplementation on the outcome and nutritional status of south Indian patients with tuberculosis (TB) with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection on anti‐tuberculous therapy. Method Randomized controlled trial on the effect of a locally prepared cereal–lentil mixture providing 930 kcal and a multivitamin micronutrient supplement during anti‐tuberculous therapy in 81 newly diagnosed TB alone and 22 TB–HIV‐coinfected patients, among whom 51 received and 52 did not receive the supplement. The primary outcome evaluated at completion of TB therapy was outcome of TB treatment, as classified by the national programme. Secondary outcomes were body composition, compliance and condition on follow‐up 1 year after cessation of TB therapy and supplementation. Results There was no significant difference in TB outcomes at the end of treatment, but HIV–TB coinfected individuals had four times greater odds of poor outcome than those with TB alone. Among patients with TB, 1/35 (2.9%) supplemented and 5/42(12%) of those not supplemented had poor outcomes, while among TB–HIV‐coinfected individuals, 4/13 (31%) supplemented and 3/7 (42.8%) non‐supplemented patients had poor outcomes at the end of treatment, and the differences were more marked after 1 year of follow‐up. Although there was some trend of benefit for both TB alone and TB–HIV coinfection, the results were not statistically significant at the end of TB treatment, possibly because of limited sample size. Conclusion Nutritional supplements in patients are a potentially feasible, low‐cost intervention, which could impact patients with TB and TB–HIV. The public health importance of these diseases in resource‐limited settings suggests the need for large, multi‐centre randomized control trials on nutritional supplementation.     

Integrated tuberculosis and HIV care in a resource-limited setting: experience from the Martin Preuss centre, Malawi

Objectives To describe the development and operation of integrated tuberculosis (TB) and HIV care at the Martin Preuss Centre, a multipartner organization bringing together governmental and non‐governmental providers of HIV and TB services in Lilongwe, Malawi. Methods We used a case study approach to describe the integrated TB/HIV service and to illustrate successes and challenges faced by service providers. We quantified effective TB and HIV integration using indicators defined by the World Health Organization. Results The custom‐designed building facilitates patient flow and infection control, and other important elements include coordinated leadership; joint staff training and meetings; and data systems prompting coordinated care. Some integrated services have worked well from the outset, such as promoting HIV testing among patients with TB (96% of patients with TB had documented HIV status in 2009). Other aspects of integrated care have been more challenging, for example achieving high uptake of antiretroviral therapy among HIV‐positive TB patients and combining data from paper and electronic systems. Good TB treatment outcomes (>85% cure or completion) have been achieved among both HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative individuals. Conclusions High‐quality integrated services for TB and HIV care can be provided in a resource‐limited setting. Lessons learned may be valuable for service providers in other settings of high HIV and TB prevalence.     

Undiagnosed tuberculosis in a community with high HIV prevalence: implications for tuberculosis control

BACKGROUND: Although failure of tuberculosis (TB) control in sub-Saharan Africa is attributed to the HIV epidemic, it is unclear why the directly observed therapy short-course (DOTS) strategy is insufficient in this setting. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of pulmonary TB (PTB) and HIV infection in a community of 13,000 with high HIV prevalence and high TB notification rate and a well-functioning DOTS TB control program. METHODS: Active case finding for PTB was performed in 762 adults using sputum microscopy and Mycobacterium tuberculosis culture, testing for HIV, and a symptom and risk factor questionnaire. Survey findings were correlated with notification data extracted from the TB treatment register. RESULTS: Of those surveyed, 174 (23%) tested HIV positive, 11 (7 HIV positive) were receiving TB therapy, 6 (5 HIV positive) had previously undiagnosed smear-positive PTB, and 6 (4 HIV positive) had smear-negative/culture-positive PTB. Symptoms were not a useful screen for PTB. Among HIV-positive and -negative individuals, prevalence of notified smear-positive PTB was 1,563/100,000 and 352/100,000, undiagnosed smear-positive PTB prevalence was 2,837/100,000 and 175/100,000, and case-finding proportions were 37 and 67%, respectively. Estimated duration of infectiousness was similar for HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. However, 87% of total person-years of undiagnosed smear-positive TB in the community were among HIV-infected individuals. CONCLUSIONS: PTB was identified in 9% of HIV-infected individuals, with 5% being previously undiagnosed. Lack of symptoms suggestive of PTB may contribute to low case-finding rates. DOTS strategy based on passive case finding should be supplemented by active case finding targeting HIV-infected individuals.     

TB and HIV in St Petersburg, Russia: a looming catastrophe?

BACKGROUND: After decades of improved tuberculosis (TB) control in Russia, notification rates started to rise in 1992. Russia also faces a fast growing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. OBJECTIVE: To document the extent and characteristics of HIV co-infection in TB patients in St Petersburg, Russia. DESIGN: A prospective cross-sectional study of HIV coinfected culture-positive TB cases. Between 15 June 2002 and 31 March 2003, TB cases at the St Petersburg City TB hospitals and dispensaries were screened for HIV infection. At the HIV Prevention and Treatment Center, HIV-infected individuals were offered TB screening. RESULTS: Forty-nine HIV-infected culture-positive TB cases were identified, mainly at TB hospitals and dispensaries. Most were new pulmonary TB cases. The majority were young (69% < or = 30 years of age), male (84%), unemployed (94%) individuals with a history of injection drug use (IDU) (92%), and, in 35% of cases a history of incarceration. Active case finding was high among contacts of cases (9%), but was not successful in HIV-infected IDUs. CONCLUSION: Although the HIV seroprevalence rate is rising among TB patients, HIV does not yet appear to be driving the St Petersburg TB epidemic. Aggressive collaborative TB-HIV control efforts may still avert adverse effects of HIV on the TB epidemic.     

Increasing incidence of HIV‐ associated tuberculosis in Romanian injecting drug users

Background

A high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) among HIV‐positive injecting drug users (IDUs) may fuel the TB epidemic in the general population of Romania. We determined the frequency and characteristics of TB in HIV‐infected IDUs referred to a national centre.

Methods

Prospective observational cohort study of all newly‐diagnosed HIV‐positive IDUs admitted to Victor Babes Hospital, Bucharest, between January 2009 and December 2014. Socio‐demographics, clinical characteristics and outcomes of HIV/TB co‐infected IDUs were compared to HIV‐positive IDUs without TB.

Results

170/598 (28.5%) HIV‐infected IDUs were diagnosed with TB. The prevalence increased from 12.5% in 2009 to 32.1% in 2014 (P < 0.001). HIV/TB co‐infected individuals had lower median CD4 cell counts 75 (vs. 450/mm³, P < 0.0001) and higher median HIV viral loads 5.6 log₁₀ (vs. 4.9 log₁₀, P < 0.0001) when presenting to healthcare services. 103/170 (60.6%) HIV/TB co‐infected IDUs were diagnosed with pulmonary TB. Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains were common, with 18/105 (17.1%) of patients having Multi‐Drug Resistant (MDR) disease. Higher mortality rate was associated with TB co‐infection (P < 0.0001), extra‐pulmonary TB (P = 0.0026) and extensively drug resistant TB (P = 0.024).

Conclusions

Tuberculosis (TB) is an increasing problem in HIV‐infected IDUs in Romania. Presentation is often with advanced HIV, significant TB drug resistance and consequent outcomes are poor.

     

TB, HIV-associated TB and multidrug-resistant TB on Thailand's border with Myanmar, 2006-2007

Objective To measure the burden and improve management of tuberculosis (TB), HIV‐associated TB and MDR TB in Tak Province, Thailand, which borders Myanmar. Methods From September 2006 to August 2007, we collected uniform data about TB cases and enhanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) counselling and testing. We provided mycobacterial culture and drug‐susceptibility testing in public or non‐governmental organization facilities. Patients were classified by nationality and, for non‐Thais, by migration status. Results Of 1662 TB cases in the 12‐month period, 1087 (65%) occurred in non‐Thais. Of non‐Thais, 415 (38%) lived in Myanmar but crossed the border for healthcare. HIV infection was diagnosed in 18% of Thais compared with 12% of non‐Thais (P < 0.01); HIV status was unknown for 22% of Thais and 27% of non‐Thais (P = 0.02). Overall, multidrug‐resistant (MDR) TB was diagnosed in 27 patients, 19 (70%) in non‐Thais. Among TB cases never previously treated for TB, no MDR cases were diagnosed in Thais or in Myanmar refugees, but six cases were diagnosed in migrants from Myanmar. Conclusions In Thailand, TB, HIV‐associated TB and MDR TB in migrants from Myanmar are important public health problems; they need to be resolved in both the countries.     

Scale‐up of TB and HIV programme collaborative activities in Zambia – a 10‐year review

Objective To review the activities, progress, achievements and challenges of the Zambia Ministry of Health tuberculosis (TB)/HIV collaborative activities over the past decade. Methods Analysis of Zambia Ministry of Health National TB and HIV programme documents and external independent programme review reports pertaining to 2000–2010. Results The number of people testing for HIV increased from 37 557 persons in 2003 to 1 327 995 persons in 2010 nationally. Those receiving anti‐retroviral therapy (ART) increased from 143 in 2003 to 344 304 in 2010. The national HIV prevalence estimates declined from 14.3% in 2001 to 13.5% in 2009. The proportion of TB patients being tested for HIV increased from 22.6% in 2006 to 84% in 2010 and approximately 70% were HIV positive. The proportion of the HIV‐infected TB patients who: (i) started on ART increased from 38% in 2006 to 50% in 2010; (ii) commenced co‐trimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) increased from 31% in 2006 to 70% in 2010; and (iii) were successfully treated increased to an average of 80% resulting in decline of deaths from 13% in 2006 to 9% in 2010. Conclusions The scale‐up of TB/HIV collaborative programme activities in Zambia has steadily increased over the past decade resulting in increased testing for TB and HIV, and anti‐retroviral (ARV) rollout with improved treatment outcomes among TB patients co‐infected with HIV. Getting service delivery points to adhere to WHO guidelines for collaborative TB/HIV activities remains problematic, especially those meant to reduce the burden of TB in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).     

Chronic cough and its association with TB–HIV co‐infection: factors affecting help‐seeking behaviour in Harare,Zimbabwe

Objective To qualitatively investigate reasons why individuals who reported chronic cough of 2 weeks or more in a cross‐sectional prevalence survey had not accessed community‐based outreach or other diagnostic services. Methods This study was nested into a cluster randomised trial comparing two methods of providing community‐level diagnosis for tuberculosis (TB). Twenty individuals (12 males) with previously unreported chronic cough, because of undiagnosed pulmonary TB in five cases, were interviewed. An additional 20 individuals who had attended clinical services participated in two focus group discussions. Data were coded and analysed using grounded theory principles. Results Participants described cough, and specifically their own symptoms, as having many possible causes other than TB. People avoided care‐seeking for cough to avoid a possible diagnosis of ‘TB2’ (HIV‐related TB). Waiting in the hope of spontaneous resolution was common. Delaying treatment‐seeking was also a strategy for deferring costs. Another common theme was negative perceptions of health facilities, as places where people anticipated discourteous treatment and being put at risk of contracting TB and HIV. Expectations that they should be in control of their own health further contributed to delayed health‐seeking in men. Conclusions Some individuals remain reluctant to be investigated for chronic cough even when provided with community‐level services, with fear of the connotations of being diagnosed with TB and an aversion to contact with health providers among the dominant themes. In men, deferred acceptance that a chronic cough should be investigated may be related to concepts of masculinity, especially when symptoms are mild.     

Tuberculosis-HIV co-infection: policy and epidemiology in 25 countries in the WHO European region

Objectives

The aims of this study were to collect and review tuberculosis (TB)–HIV data for Europe and to provide an overview of current health policies addressing co‐infection.

Methods

We collected reported cases of TB–HIV from the 25 most affected member states of the World Health Organization (WHO) European region. Countries were also asked whether they had implemented health policies covering collaborative TB–HIV activities and what their main achievements, obstacles and needs were in addressing TB–HIV.

Results

Twenty countries reported registering a total of 6925 TB–HIV cases in 2005. Among TB patients tested, 3.3% were found to be HIV‐positive, up from 2.1% in 2004. The male‐to‐female ratio was 2.7:1. The largest percentage of co‐infections were reported in people aged 25–34 years (47.8%). Recommended TB–HIV policies have been implemented in many of the countries.

Conclusions

Case‐finding has improved in many countries and the reported incidence of TB–HIV is increasing in the European region, particularly among young adults, although it remains low compared to other parts of the world. Strengthened coordination of existing TB and HIV services is still needed.     

HIV seroprevalence in patients with tuberculosis]

The number of patients co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) in our hospital is increasing year after year. Although most patients were HIV tested because of miliary tuberculosis or extra-pulmonary tuberculosis, some patients were found HIV seropositive by chance. In order to determine the incidence of HIV seropositivity among TB patients, HIV testing was carried out in TB patients for two years from January 1998 with the consent of patients. TB patients who received anti-HIV antibody examination were 164 in 1998, and 149 in 1999 and among them HIV seropositive TB patients were 4 in 1998 and 6 in 1999. The incidence of HIV seropositivity was 3.2% in all TB patients, 28.6% in miliary TB patients, and 1.0% in typical TB patients. The number of patients co-infected with HIV and TB in Tokyo was estimated by using these HIV seropositivity, it was 23 cases/year among miliary TB patients and 16 cases/year among typical TB patients. As there were many HIV-infected persons and many TB patients in Tokyo, it was thought that HIV testing in TB patients was important for the early detection of HIV infection and the early initiation of HIV treatment.     

Married to M. tuberculosis: risk of infection and disease in spouses of smear-positive tuberculosis patients

Objectives To quantify the risk of infection and disease in spouses of tuberculosis patients and the extent to which intervention could reduce the risk in this highly exposed group. Methods We compared HIV prevalence, TB prevalence and incidence and tuberculin skin test (TST) results in spouses of TB patients and community controls. HIV‐positive spouses were offered isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT), and TST was repeated at 6, 12 and 24 months. Results We recruited 148 spouses of smear‐positive patients ascertained prospectively and 3% had active TB. We identified 203 spouses of previously diagnosed smear‐positive patients, 11 had already had TB, and the rate of TB was 2.4 per 100 person years(py) over 2 years (95% CI 1.15–5.09). 116 were found alive and recruited. HIV prevalence was 37% and 39% in the prospective and retrospective spouse groups and 17% in controls. TST was ≥10 mm in 80% of HIV negative and in 57% of HIV‐positive spouses ascertained retrospectively; 74% HIV negative and 62% HIV‐positive spouses ascertained prospectively, and 48% HIV negative and 26% HIV‐positive community controls. Of 54 HIV‐positive spouses, 18 completed 6‐month IPT. At 2 year follow‐up, 87% of surviving spouses had TST ≥10 mm and the rate of TB was 1.1 per 100 py (95% CI 0.34–3.29). Conclusions Spouses are a high‐risk group who should be screened for HIV and active TB. TST prevalence was already high by the time the spouses were approached but further infections were seen to occur. Uptake and adherence to IPT was disappointing, lessening the impact of short‐duration therapy.     

结核病和结核病/艾滋病病毒双重感染的负担与挑战:尼日利亚的案例研究

目的: 了解尼日利亚结核病与结核病/艾滋病病毒(TB/HIV)双重感染的负担和结核病综合防治措施的落实情况,以确定尼日利亚结核病防控所面临的挑战,为尼日利亚消除结核病提供参考依据。方法: 利用2010—2020年世界卫生组织的全球结核病报告数据描述尼日利亚的结核病与TB/HIV双重感染负担趋势。结果: 尼日利亚是结核病与TB/HIV双重感染高负担国家,HIV感染者结核病发病率从2010年的54/10万下降至2020年的17/10万;2020年结核病确诊患者数为13.5万例,估计发病例数为45.2万,结核病治疗覆盖率仅为30%;TB/HIV双重感染患者抗逆转录病毒治疗覆盖率从2010年的6.9%增加至2020年的26.0%;结核病成功治疗率从2010年的81%提高至2019年的88%,TB/HIV双重感染患者成功治疗率从2012年的78.9%提高至2019年的81.1%;尼日利亚结核病资金总量增加,TB/HIV项目资金变化小,从2010年的450万美元增长至2020年的540万美元。结论: 尼日利亚与2020年“终止结核病战略”的目标有很大的差距。尼日利亚要减轻并消除结核病和TB/HIV双重感染负担,必须优先考虑落实结核病综合防治措施,增加必要的结核病防治资源和经费,提高结核病诊断能力。     

A world-wide internet survey of public knowledge about tuberculosis

Four simple multiple-choice questions about tuberculosis (TB) were posted on a non-medical internet site for a 2-month period. A total of 564 responses were received. Sixty-two were excluded as individuals had made multiple attempts at the questions. Sixty-five per cent of responses were from North America, 14.5% from Europe and 12% from Australia and New Zealand, with only a small number of responses from Africa, the Indian subcontinent and South America. Of the respondents 49.5% correctly answered that cough is the commonest symptom of TB, 45% knew that TB was transmitted mainly by air-borne droplets, 37.8% knew that TB was caused by a bacterium. Only 19.5% knew that the most important risk factor for developing TB was HIV infection and only 4% answered all questions correctly. This survey suggests that knowledge about tuberculosis is limited in computer-literate individuals throughout the world.     

Beneficial and perverse effects of isoniazid preventive therapy for latent tuberculosis infection in HIV-tuberculosis coinfected populations

In sub-Saharan Africa, where the emergence of HIV has caused dramatic increases in tuberculosis (TB) case notifications, new strategies for TB control are necessary. Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for HIV-TB coinfected individuals reduces the reactivation of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections and is being evaluated as a potential community-wide strategy for improving TB control. We developed a mathematical model of TB/HIV coepidemics to examine the impact of community-wide implementation of IPT for TB-HIV coinfected individuals on the dynamics of drug-sensitive and -resistant TB epidemics. We found that community-wide IPT will reduce the incidence of TB in the short-term but may also speed the emergence of drug-resistant TB. We conclude that community-wide IPT in areas of emerging HIV and drug-resistant TB should be coupled with diagnostic and treatment policies designed to identify and effectively treat the increasing proportion of patients with drug-resistant TB.     

艾滋病与结核病相关性研究

目的调查结核病人群的艾滋病病毒(HIV)感染情况,了解HIV与结核分枝杆菌(MTB)的相关性.方法对2272例诊断为结核病的住院病人进行HIV抗体检测,初筛阳性者进一步做免疫印迹试验(WB).结果检出HIV抗体阳性者7例,检出率为0.308%.7例HIV抗体阳性者中,男性5例,女性2例.其中6例为活动性肺结核,1例结核性胸膜炎,发病年龄以20～40岁为主,占86%.结论结核病人群中的HIV抗体阳性者比一般人群高10倍.建议对有HIV高危行为的结核病患者尤其是中青年患者做常规HIV抗体检测,以便早期发现、治疗HIV/MTB双重感染者,预防与控制艾滋病和结核病的流行.     

HIV testing practices of TB patients after introduction of a new testing policy in Kiev City, Ukraine.

SETTING: The Kiev City Health Administration published a new policy for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing of tuberculosis (TB) patients. According to this policy, all TB patients should be offered voluntary HIV testing after counselling. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the implementation of the new HIV testing policy and to determine the HIV prevalence in TB patients in Kiev City. DESIGN: TB patient medical records were retrieved from eight TB facilities in Kiev City. They were reviewed for information about offering an HIV test, accepting to be HIV tested and outcome of the HIV test. Information was collected about patient characteristics and TB risk groups. RESULTS: Of 914 patients, 75% were offered HIV testing. Females were less frequently and alcohol abusers more frequently offered HIV testing. Of the patients who were offered HIV testing, 84% accepted. Of the 574 who were HIV tested, 36 (6.3%) had a positive test result. CONCLUSION: Not all TB facilities adhere strictly to the new policy. HIV testing seemed to be targeted to individuals with a high risk for HIV infection. To improve adherence to the new policy we recommend training of TB physicians in voluntary counselling and testing. The HIV prevalence among TB patients in Kiev City was 6.3%.     

Mannose binding lectin gene variants and susceptibility to tuberculosis in HIV-1 infected patients of South India

Mannose binding lectin (MBL) plays an important role in innate immunity. Plasma MBL levels and MBL2 gene polymorphisms were studied in HIV-1 infected patients without tuberculosis (HIV+TB-) (n=151) and with tuberculosis (HIV+TB+) (n=109), HIV negative tuberculosis patients (HIV-TB+) (n=148) and healthy controls (n=146) by ELISA and genotyping by polymerase chain reaction based methods. MBL levels were significantly increased among HIV-TB+ and HIV+TB+ patients than controls and HIV+TB- patients (P<0.05). A significantly increased frequency of OO genotype of structural polymorphism and YY genotype of -221Y/X was observed among HIV-TB+ patients than controls. In HIV+TB+ patients, a significantly increased frequency of YA/YA diplotype (associated with very high MBL levels) was observed compared to controls (P=0.03). In HIV+TB+ patients, a significantly decreased frequency of medium MBL expression diplotypes (XA/XA and YA/YO) were noticed compared to HIV+TB- and healthy controls. The results suggest that YA/YA diplotype associated with very high MBL levels may predispose HIV-infected patients to tuberculosis while O/O genotype associated with very low MBL levels may be associated with susceptibility to tuberculosis in HIV uninfected individuals. Medium MBL expression diplotypes might protect against development of TB in HIV-infected patients.     

Combining surveillance systems to investigate local trends in tuberculosis-HIV co-infection

ABSTRACT

Alameda County has some of the highest human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB) case rates of California counties. We identified TB-HIV co-infected patients in 2002–2015 by matching county TB and HIV registries, and assessed trends in TB-HIV case rates and estimated prevalence ratios for HIV co-infection. Of 2054 TB cases reported during 2002–2015, 91 (4%) were HIV co-infected. TB-HIV case rates were 0.29/100,000 and 0.40/100,000 in 2002 and 2015, respectively, with no significant change (P = 0.85). African-American TB case-patients were 9.77 times (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.90–16.17) more likely than Asians to be HIV co-infected, and men 2.74 times (95% CI 1.66–4.51) more likely co-infected than women. HIV co-infection was more likely among TB case-patients with homelessness (6.21, 95% CI 3.49–11.05) and injection drug use (11.75, 95% CI 7.61–18.14), but less common among foreign-born and older case-patients (both P < 0.05). Among foreign-born case-patients, 42% arrived in the U.S. within 5 years of TB diagnosis. TB-HIV case rates were low and stable in Alameda County, and co-infected patients were predominantly young, male, U.S.-born individuals with traditional TB risk factors. Efforts to reduce TB-HIV burden in Alameda County should target persons with traditional TB risk factors and recently arrived foreign-born individuals.     

Tuberculosis incidence in developing countries with high prevalence of HIV infection.

OBJECTIVE: To study the impact of the HIV epidemic on tuberculosis (TB) incidence in developing countries. DESIGN: A simple mathematical model is constructed using figures from published reports to estimate the rise of TB incidence as the HIV epidemic expands. METHOD: Two groups with different risk of developing TB are identified: individuals with dual infection of HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis and the rest of the population. The model is based on a combination of the incidence and the percentage of TB in these two groups. The expected rise in TB incidence and the percentage of TB cases that will be HIV-positive are plotted against the prevalence of HIV. CONCLUSIONS: Unless appropriate action is taken, TB incidence in developing countries will double as the prevalence of HIV infection reaches 13 per hundred adults.     

Tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected Indian patients

Individuals with HIV infection are at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB). The altered CD4 T-cell homeostasis induced by HIV infection may play a key role in the development of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients. In this retrospective analysis, lymphocyte profiles (CD4 and CD8 count) of subjects infected with HIV, with or without TB, were evaluated. The influence of tuberculosis treatment on the CD4 count in dually infected patients was analyzed in a subset of patients available for follow-up. Of 421 subjects with HIV infection studied, 105 (24.9%) were positive for TB (HIV+TB+). A statistically significant difference (p = 0.0001) was found in the median CD4+ counts between the HIV+TB- (297.5 per microliter) and HIV+TB+ (181 per microliter) groups. TB was found to be the indicator disease for HIV infection in 36 (34.2%). In 65.7% of HIV-infected patients, TB was the first AIDS-defining disease. Of 72 patients who were receiving TB treatment, 33 (45.9%) showed an increase in CD4 counts, but this was statistically not significant. None of these patients was undergoing antiretroviral therapy prior to TB treatment. We conclude from this retrospective study that TB, a common HIV-related opportunistic infection in Indian subjects, is associated with lower CD4+ counts. The influence of TB therapy on CD4 counts in the patients needs to be further investigated.