Pulmonary tuberculosis in Kigali, Rwanda. Impact of human immunodeficiency virus infection on clinical and radiographic presentation.

The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and radiographic presentation as well as the therapeutic outcome of pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) in adult patients with and without human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection in Kigali, Rwanda. Over a 17-month period 59 consecutive patients with bacteriologically and/or histopathologically documented PT were enrolled. Of these, 48 (81%) patients were HIV seropositive. Among these, 35 fit the WHO clinical criteria for AIDS (WHOCCA) at the time of admission. Significant differences were found between the HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative groups of patients: fever (85 versus 36%; p less than 0.001), tuberculin skin test anergy (69 versus 0%; p less than 0.01), mediastinal and/or hilar adenopathies (31 versus 0%; p = 0.05), and pleural effusion (43 versus 9%; p less than 0.05) were more frequently encountered in the HIV-seropositive group, and upper lobe infiltrates (55 versus 16%; p less than 0.02) and cavitation (91 versus 39%; p less than 0.003) were more often seen in the HIV-seronegative group. However, HIV-seropositive patients not meeting WHOCCA were less frequently anergic (0 versus 100%; p less than 0.001) and feverish (53 versus 97%; p less than 0.01) and more often had cavitation (69 versus 28%; p less than 0.02) and less often mediastinal and/or hilar adenopathies (7 versus 40%; p less than 0.04) compared with HIV-seropositive patients meeting WHOCCA. Under antituberculosis treatment, clearance of fever was slower in HIV-seropositive compared with HIV-seronegative patients, and among the HIV-seropositive group it was slower in those fitting WHOCCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Impact of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 on tuberculosis in rural Haiti

We conducted a case-control study to determine the relative and attributable risk of HIV seropositivity for bacillary-positive (smear and/or culture) pulmonary tuberculosis in Haiti. There were 274 patients with tuberculosis and an equal number of control subjects. Antibodies to HIV were present in 67 (24%) patients and eight (3%) control subjects. Odds ratios suggested that the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis was 15.7 times as great (95% confidence interval, 4.8 to 5.0; p less than 0.05) in patients 20 to 39 yr of age who were HIV-seropositive than in HIV-seronegative patients. In contrast, the relative risk in those 40 to 59 yr of age was elevated (3.0 times), though not significantly (lower 95% confidence interval, 0.8). In the 20- to 39-yr age group, 31% of tuberculosis was attributable to HIV infection (95% confidence interval between 23 and 39%). HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients did not differ with respect to sputum smear positivity. HIV-seronegative patients were twice as likely to be infected with resistant organisms, though this was not significant. We conclude that HIV infection is a major risk factor for pulmonary tuberculosis in young adult residents of Haiti. This, together with the fact that similar proportions of HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients were potentially infectious, suggests that without vigorous counteraction tuberculosis will become a greater problem for Haiti.     

HIV infection in patients with tuberculosis in Kinshasa, Zaire

To better define the interrelationship of infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis (TB), we conducted three HIV serosurveys of inpatients and outpatients with confirmed or suspected TB in Kinshasa, Zaire. HIV seroprevalence in hospitalized sanatorium patients did not change significantly in serosurveys conducted in 1985 and 1987 (92/231 [40%] versus 85/234 [36%]). These proportions were significantly higher than the 17% HIV seroprevalence observed in a 1987 serosurvey of 509 consecutive patients with an initial diagnosis of pulmonary TB seen at an outpatient TB diagnostic center in Kinshasa (p less than 0.001). HIV seroprevalence was higher in sanatorium patients with extrapulmonary TB (22/46 [48%]) and suspected pulmonary TB (60/132 [45%]) than in patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB (94/287 [33%]) (p less than 0.02). Mycobacterium sputum isolation rates were similar in HIV-seropositive (28/34 [82%]) and HIV-seronegative patients (135/159 [85%]). All isolates were Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Eighteen (21%) of 84 HIV-seropositive sanatorium patients in 1987, who were followed for two months after admission, had died, compared with 11 (9%) of 128 HIV-seronegative patients (p less than 0.01). However, clearance rates of acid-fast bacilli from sputum after standard therapy were equally good in HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative survivors. With the growing AIDS problem, the serious TB burden in sub-Saharan Africa may become even more onerous and may critically overload the stressed African health care systems.     

Comparison of mycobacterial lymphadenitis among persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus and seronegative controls.

Lymphadenitis is a common extrapulmonary manifestation of mycobacterial disease in persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We compared the clinical, mycobacterial, and diagnostic characteristics of mycobacterial adenitis in 11 HIV-seropositive and 29 HIV-seronegative patients. Ninety-three percent of the HIV-seronegative patients and 54% of the HIV-seropositive patients were foreign-born. In contrast to the HIV-seronegative patients, seropositive patients were more likely to be febrile and have negative purified protein derivative skin tests and abnormal chest roentgenograms. Sputum samples were rarely diagnostic in either group. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was the most commonly isolated organism in both groups, although United States-born patients with HIV infection were more likely to be infected with nontuberculous mycobacteria. In contrast to results for seronegative patients, fine-needle aspiration was usually diagnostic in the HIV-seropositive population, especially in those at risk for M. tuberculosis infection. Similarly, the rate at which smears were positive for acid-fast bacilli was significantly higher in the HIV-seropositive group, a circumstance suggesting a higher burden of organisms in this population. Finally, although preceding opportunistic infections were uncommon in the HIV-seropositive group, both tuberculous and nontuberculous adenitis were associated with advanced immunosuppression.     

A retrospective cohort study of the risk of tuberculosis among women of childbearing age with HIV infection in Zaire

To determine the risk of active tuberculosis associated with HIV infection, we retrospectively studied a cohort of HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative women participating in an HIV perinatal transmission study in Kinshasa, Zaire. After a median follow-up of 32 months, new cases of proven pulmonary or clinically diagnosed tuberculosis occurred in 19 of the 249 HIV-seropositive women (7.6%, 3.1 cases per 100 person-years) compared with 1 of the 310 HIV-seronegative women (0.3%, 0.12 cases per 100 person-years), for a relative risk of 26 (95% confidence interval, 5 to 125). Proven pulmonary tuberculosis was diagnosed in 7 HIV-seropositive women (2.8%, 1.2 cases per 100 person-years) and 1 HIV-seronegative woman (0.3%, 0.12 cases per 100 person-years), for a relative risk of 10 (95% confidence interval, 1.5 to 47). We estimated that 66 cases of proven pulmonary tuberculosis in 100,000 person-years of follow-up in women of childbearing age could be attributed to HIV; this is 35% of their estimated total incidence of proven pulmonary tuberculosis. Among those followed for 2 yr, 27 (11%) of 243 HIV-seropositive women died during 2 yr of follow-up compared with none of 296 HIV-seronegative women (p less than 0.001). In HIV-seropositive women with proven or clinically diagnosed tuberculosis mortality was even higher: 5 (26%) of the 19 HIV-seropositive women with proven pulmonary or clinically diagnosed tuberculosis died during follow-up compared with 22 (10%) of the 224 HIV-seropositive women not diagnosed as having tuberculosis (relative risk 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1 to 6.3).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Preferential recruitment of phagocytes into the lung of patients with advanced acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and tuberculosis

Limited data are available on the cellular and immunocytological characteristics of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid in individuals infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The immune host response against tuberculosis in early HIV-infection may differ from that in later stages of HIV disease, as is strongly suggested by different clinical and radiographic patterns. We studied the cellular elements in the lungs of 15 HIV-infected patients with advanced immunosuppression and pulmonary tuberculosis (TB/AIDS). The findings were compared with data from four other groups: 1) 15 HIV-seronegative patients with pulmonary TB; 2) 12 HIV-seropositive TB patients without previous AIDS-defining illnesses and with CD4+ >200 cells mm(-3); 3) five AIDS patients without pulmonary lesions; and 4) five healthy controls. BAL fluid and differential cell counts, as well as lymphocyte subsets, were determined. Despite a low CD4/CD8 ratio, the TB/AIDS group had a higher absolute number of CD8+ lymphocytes in the BAL fluid than the other groups. Alveolar macrophages and neutrophils were significantly increased in TB/AIDS patients compared to control groups. The number of eosinophils was increased in TB/HIV--patients but not in TB/AIDS patients. We conclude that tuberculosis in late stage HIV-infected patients has a distinct inflammatory cell profile, suggesting an enhanced compensatory mechanism that amplifies the unspecific inflammatory reaction.     

The Relationship between Disease Pattern and Disease Burden by Chest Radiography, <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. tuberculosis</Emphasis> Load,and HIV Status in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Addis Ababa

Abstract Background: We evaluated the impact of HIV coinfection on the chest radiographic pattern and extent of disease and its relation to the load of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Ethiopian out-patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. Patients and Methods: A total of 168 patients with cultureverified pulmonary tuberculosis had their chest X-rays (CXR) reviewed for the site, pattern, and extent of disease and the findings were correlated to (a) the mycobacterial culture count and bacillus load after sputum concentration and (b) the HIV status of the patients. Results: HIV-positive patients were less likely to have cavitary disease (p < 0.001) and more likely to have pleural effusion (p = 0.08), miliary (p < 0.05), and interstitial (p < 0.01) patterns. A total of 15 (9.2%) patients had normal chest X-rays. HIV-infected patients had a CXR classified as normal or with minimal involvement (p = 0.059) and a reduced mycobacterial colony count (p = 0.002) compared to HIV-negative patients. Middle and lower lung involvement were more common in HIV-positive patients. Conclusion: CXR findings in the setting of an underlying HIV infection tend to be more atypical and could present as either normal or with minimal involvement. In general, HIV-positive patients had lower colony count of M. tuberculosis than HIV-negative patients. Of particular interest is the finding of a large number of normal chest X-rays in HIV-infected patients. With the rising incidence of both tuberculosis and HIV infection in Ethiopia, the finding of a normal chest X-ray and a negative smear poses a challenge for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.     

Tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection

Because of the abnormalities of host defenses caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), persons with HIV infection are vulnerable to tuberculosis. Inferential data from several parts of the country indicate increases in tuberculosis case rates, probably occurring in patients with HIV infection. In a person infected with both HIV and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, attack rates of tuberculosis seem to be very high. In general, the disease tends to occur earlier in the course of HIV infection than other opportunistic processes that serve to define the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), presumably because M tuberculosis is more pathogenic than Pneumocystis carinii or Mycobacterium avium complex, for example. The clinical features of tuberculosis in this patient population seem to vary depending on the stage of the HIV infection. Late in the process, tuberculosis usually has atypical features with chest films showing diffuse infiltration, no cavities, and intrathoracic adenopathy. Tuberculin skin tests commonly are negative. At earlier stages of HIV infection, the clinical findings are similar to those in HIV-seronegative persons. Response to treatment is generally good; however, it is recommended that the standard duration be at least 9 months, using isoniazid and rifampin usually supplemented by pyrazinamide in the first 2 months. The use of isoniazid for preventive therapy is recommended for all HIV-seropositive persons who have tuberculin skin test reactions greater than or equal to 5 minutes. Those implementing infection-control measures for HIV-infected patients who have pulmonary findings should take tuberculosis into account until the disease is excluded. Medical personnel providing care for patients with tuberculosis should use universal blood and body substance precautions because of the possibility of undetected HIV infection in patients with tuberculosis.     

HIV prevalence, immunosuppression, and drug resistance in patients with tuberculosis in an area endemic for AIDS.

From October 1987 to June 1988, we attempted to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among patients hospitalized with tuberculosis and the extent of immunosuppression among those tuberculosis patients infected with HIV. Of 178 consecutive patients, 18-65 years of age, who were hospitalized with newly diagnosed, previously untreated tuberculosis, 46% (82 out of 178) had clinical or serological evidence of HIV infection, 30% (54 out of 178) were HIV-seronegative, and 24% (42 out of 178) could not be assessed for the presence of HIV infection. Among the HIV-seropositive patients without an AIDS-defining diagnosis by non-tuberculous criteria, the median CD4 lymphocyte (CD4) count was 133 x 10(6) cells/l (range: 11-677 x 10(6]; among the HIV-seronegative patients, the median CD4 count was 613 x 10(6) cells/l (range: 238-1614 x 10(6); P less than 0.001). Among the HIV-seropositive patients, those with disseminated tuberculosis (median CD4 = 79 x 10(6) cells/l) and those with pulmonary tuberculosis who had radiographic evidence of mediastinal or hilar adenopathy (median CD4 = 45 x 10(6) cells/l) had the most severe CD4 depletion, whereas those with localized extrapulmonary tuberculosis (median CD4 = 242 x 10(6) cells/l) and those with pulmonary tuberculosis without adenopathy (median CD4 = 299 x 10(6) cells/l) were less severely immunosuppressed. Of the 178 patients, 6% (11 out of 178) were infected with strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistant to both isoniazid and rifampin.     

Risk factors for negative sputum acid-fast bacilli smears in pulmonary tuberculosis: results from Dakar, Senegal, a city with low HIV seroprevalence.

SETTING: Two teaching hospitals in Dakar, Senegal, a West African country with a low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether patients with HIV-associated pulmonary tuberculosis have fewer acid-fast bacilli (AFB) in their sputum as assessed by routine microscopy, and to correlate the findings with systematically obtained clinical, radiographic and laboratory variables. DESIGN: Prospective study from November 1995 to October 1996 of 450 consecutive patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis. RESULTS: Tuberculosis was diagnosed in 380 patients (84.4%) by positive bacteriology, in 61 (13.6%) by a favorable response to anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, and in nine (2.0%) by the presence of a miliary radiographic pattern. Forty (8.9%) patients were HIV-seropositive. AFB-negative smears were found in 14/40 (35.0%) of the HIV-seropositive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis compared with 71/410 (17.3%) of the seronegative patients (risk ratio [RR] = 2.02, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.26-3.24, P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that AFB smear negativity was associated with absence of cavitation (P = 0.002), lack of cough (P = 0.005), the presence of HIV seropositivity (P = 0.02), a CD4+ cell count above 200/mm3 (P = 0.02), and age over 40 years (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with HIV-seronegative patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, seropositive patients in Dakar, Senegal, are more likely to have negative sputum-AFB smears. This phenomenon has now been observed in seven of eight sub-Saharan African countries with varying HIV seroprevalence from which reports are available.     

Persistent diarrhoea in Zairian AIDS patients: an endoscopic and histological study.

To determine the aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in African patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), 42 patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and persistent diarrhoea were enrolled in a microbiological, endoscopic, and histological study. Cryptosporidium was the intestinal parasite most often identified (30%); Isospora belli was found in 12% of the patients. Histological examination of the duodenal mucosa showed a non-specific inflammatory reaction in a significantly higher number of HIV-seropositive patients (82%) than HIV-seronegative controls without diarrhoea (52%) (p = 0.02). Lymphocytes were more likely to be found in inflammatory reactions in HIV-seropositive patients than in controls (p less than 0.0001). Pathogens were observed in histological sections of the duodenum of HIV-seropositive patients only (p = 0.002) and included cryptosporidia (four patients) Isospora belli (one), Strongyloides stercoralis (one), and Cryptococcus neoformans (one). On histological examination the rectal mucosa of HIV-seropositive patients and controls was similar, except eosinophils were more likely to be present in inflammatory reaction in HIV-seropositive patients (p = 0.05) and enteric pathogens were observed only in HIV-seropositive patients (cytomegalovirus inclusion bodies (one) and Schistosoma mansoni (two). The aetiology of persistent diarrhoea in most African AIDS patients remains unclear.     

The association of tuberculosis and HIV infection in Burundi

AIDS and tuberculosis (TB) are both endemic in Bujumbura, Burundi. An 11% failure rate to standard antituberculosis treatment (n = 173) was observed at the Tuberculosis Treatment Center of Bujumbura (CATB) in 1985-1986. All resistant cases (n = 19) were HIV seropositive. Among 328 consecutive cases with tuberculosis at the CATB during a 3 month period in 1986, 54.5% were HIV seropositive, which is five times higher than the prevalence in the general population in Bujumbura. More female patients than male cases were HIV antibody positive (62 versus 49%, respectively; p less than 0.02). Persistent weight loss, cough, and an anergic tuberculin test were more common in the HIV-seropositive group. Among 48 household members of HIV-seropositive patients with tuberculosis, 6 (12.5%) new cases of tuberculosis were identified, compared with none among 28 household members of HIV-seronegative patients with tuberculosis (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 0.43-33.2). HIV infection is a new risk factor for tuberculosis in Africa, and HIV-infected cases of tuberculosis may be more infectious than HIV-negative patients. The AIDS epidemic may drastically complicate the diagnosis, management, and control of tuberculosis in populations in which both infections are endemic.     

The prevalence of pulmonary parenchymal tuberculosis in patients with tuberculous pleuritis

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To examine the prevalence and characteristics of parenchymal tuberculous pleuritis in adult patients. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three hospitals affiliated with Seoul National University in South Korea. PATIENTS: All patients > 15 years old with a diagnosis of tuberculous pleuritis were enrolled prospectively between January 1, 2004, and October 31, 2004. INTERVENTIONS: Diagnostic thoracocentesis and CT of the chest were done for each patient. Acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smears and cultures for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were requested if patients produced any sputum. A board-certified radiologist reviewed the chest radiographs for the presence and characteristics of any lesions. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: One hundred six patients with tuberculous pleuritis were enrolled (median age, 53 years; range 16 to 89 years). Among them, 33 patients (31%) had sputum or bronchial washing findings positive for AFB smears or for M tuberculosis by culture. Lung parenchymal lesions were observed in 91 of the patients (86%) using chest CT; 39 patients (37%) with parenchymal lesions had radiographic characteristics of active pulmonary tuberculosis. In total, 62 patients (59%) had bacteriologically or radiographically active pulmonary tuberculosis. In addition, 78 patients (74%) had features of reactivated pulmonary tuberculosis. CONCLUSIONS: Lung parenchymal lesions were more common in this series of patients with tuberculous pleuritis than has been reported in previous studies. The patients mostly had radiographic features of reactivated, rather than primary, tuberculosis.     

HIV-related pneumococcal lung disease: does highly active antiretroviral therapy or bacteremia modify radiologic appearance?

We reviewed chest radiographs of 57 HIV-infected patients with pulmonary diseases in whom Streptococcus pneumoniae was the sole respiratory pathogen isolated to evaluate whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) or bacteremia modify radiographic appearance. Pneumococcal lung disease presented as lobar pneumonia in 40% of the cases, 54% of whom were on HAART; as bronchopneumonia in 42%, 58% on HAART; as interstitial infiltrates in 17%, 60% on HAART. Bacteremia was observed 38 times in 23 patients with CD4 less than 200/mm(3), and in 15 with CD4 greater than 200/mm(3) (p > 0.05). HAART does not significantly influences radiographic appearances of lung disease caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (p > 0.05). Immunosuppression induced by HIV infection was a major risk factor for development of pneumococcal lung disease (p = 0.04) and influences radiographic appearance; bronchopneumonia (p = 0.006), in particular multifocal (p = 0.008), which was more frequent in subjects with CD4 less than 200/mm(3). Bacteremia influences radiographic appearance of pneumococcal lung disease; lobar pneumonia was more frequent (p = 0.003), and considering CD4 cell count, was more frequent if CD4 cell count was above 200/mm(3). An original finding of this study was the frequency of interstitial changes. This pattern of pneumonia, found in 17% of our patients, could represent a difference between HIV-seropositive and -seronegative subject in displaying pneumococcal lung disease.     

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in tuberculosis patients

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) serology was performed in non-Asian-born patients 18-65 years old with newly diagnosed tuberculosis at a county tuberculosis clinic, and demographic and clinical features of HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative patients were compared. Sixty of 128 eligible patients agreed to participate, of whom 17 (28%) were seropositive. Risk of HIV was associated with homosexual contact, intravenous drug use, or both; however, 4 (24%) of the 17 seropositives denied risk behaviors. Significantly more blacks (48%) than whites (10%) or Latinos (20%) were HIV-seropositive (P less than .01). Site of disease, tuberculin reactivity, response to therapy, drug toxicity, and relapse did not differ significantly between groups. HIV-seropositive patients had significantly lower median CD4+ cell counts (326/mm3, range 23-742/mm3, vs. 929/mm3, range 145-2962/mm3, P less than .0005) and median CD4+:CD8+ ratios (0.50, range 0.14-1.07 vs. 1.54, range 0.35-4.36, P less than .0001). HIV infection is associated with clinically typical tuberculosis and HIV screening of tuberculosis patients is recommended in areas where HIV is endemic.     

HIV infection and primary resistance to antituberculosis drugs in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis resistance to antituberculosis drugs, and to relate this resistance to HIV serologic status. DESIGN: Cross-sectional prevalence study. SETTING: The two major outpatient tuberculosis clinics in Abidjan, C?te d'Ivoire, West Africa. PATIENTS: Sixty individuals with newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis and sputum smears positive for acid-fast bacilli. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV serologic status and in vitro testing for susceptibility of M. tuberculosis isolates to antituberculosis drugs. RESULTS: M. tuberculosis was isolated from 82% (49 out of 60) of sputum specimens. Thirty-five per cent (17 out of 49) were obtained from HIV-seropositive and 65% (32 out of 49) from HIV-seronegative patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the proportion of resistant isolates from HIV-seropositive versus HIV-seronegative patients, although the relatively small sample size limited power. Of the total number of isolates, 17% were resistant to isoniazid; resistance was less to streptomycin (7%), rifampin (2%), pyrazinamide (0%), and ethambutol (0%). Eighteen and 21% of mycobacterial isolates from HIV-seropositive and HIV-seronegative individuals, respectively, were resistant to one or more of these drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Surveys of this type are useful in planning and evaluating tuberculosis preventive therapy in individuals with dual infection.     

Class-specific antibody response to pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides in men infected with human immunodeficiency virus type 1

We characterized the effect of infection with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV) on levels of total immunoglobulins and pneumococcal vaccine-specific immunoglobulins in 28 heterosexual and 25 homosexual men seronegative for HIV; 27 asymptomatic, seropositive homosexual men; and 21 patients with AIDS. Total serum IgG levels were increased in both HIV-seropositive groups compared with the HIV-seronegative men (P less than .001). Total IgM levels, however, were elevated only in the asymptomatic, HIV-seropositive men (P less than .08); total IgA levels were elevated only in the patients with AIDS (P less than .05). Vaccine-specific serum IgG, IgM, and IgA significantly increased over baseline three and six weeks after immunization in all groups (P less than .05). Responses to vaccine among the HIV-seronegative groups were similar but were greater for all antibody classes than were responses among the HIV-seropositive groups (P less than .05).     

Characteristics of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients: a case-control study

To test the hypothesis that HIV infection can modify the clinical characteristics of tuberculosis, 65 consecutive cases of tuberculosis in HIV-seropositive patients diagnosed in Barcelona (Spain) were compared with 65 HIV-seronegative controls matched for age and sex. Thirty of the 65 cases were accepted as AIDS cases (August 1987 Centers for Disease Control criteria) only because of the tuberculosis. Among the cases 54 (83%) were parenteral drug addicts and 88% were males. The tuberculosis was pulmonary or pleural in 62 controls (96%) but in only 25 cases (39%; P less than 0.0001). Lymph nodes were involved in 25 cases (39%) and in none of the controls (P less than 0.0001). Disseminated forms of tuberculosis were present in seven cases (11%) and in no controls (P less than 0.007). Bone, joints and central nervous system involvement were also significantly (P less than 0.05) more frequent in cases. The treatment (isoniazid and rifampin for 6 months plus ethambutol and pyrazinamide during the first 2 months) was always effective. One relapse was detected after a median follow-up of 55 months in cases and none in controls after a median follow-up of 43 months. Twenty-five cases (39%) and 14 controls (22%) developed mild or severe side effects related to the treatment (P less than 0.004). In conclusion, most of the HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis were drug addicts with extrapulmonary or disseminated forms. A short course of treatment (6 or 9 months) may be enough but side effects were frequent.     

Use of mycobacterial smears in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in AIDS/ARC patients

Pulmonary tuberculosis in AIDS/ARC patients is an increasing problem. To assess the utility of acid-fast smears of pulmonary secretions in this patient population, we evaluated 38 AIDS/ARC patients with culture-positive pulmonary infection. A control group consisted of 57 non-AIDS/ARC patients, who also did not belong to an AIDS risk group, diagnosed during the same period. The number of culture-positive sputum samples evaluated per patient was similar in both groups (3.82 +/- 3.11 AIDS/ARC vs 4.47 +/- 2.83 control group). Significantly fewer AIDS/ARC patients, 45 percent, however, had a positive acid-fast smear compared with the control group, 81 percent (p less than 0.001). The initial sputum smear submitted was positive in only 29 percent of the AIDS/ARC group compared with 61 percent of control subjects (p less than 0.01). Further, greater than or equal to 5 negative smears were found in 60 percent of the evaluable AIDS/ARC patients compared with just 13 percent of control subjects (p less than 0.01). More extensive findings on chest roentgenograms were not associated with a significantly higher yield of smear positivity in the AIDS/ARC group. We conclude that acid-fast smears on sputum specimens are a relatively insensitive test for pulmonary tuberculosis in AIDS/ARC patients.     

Erythropoietin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) levels in sera of patients with HIV infection

Levels of erythropoietin and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were measured in sera of 28 HIV-seronegative heterosexual non-intravenous drug using controls, 57 HIV-seronegative and 42 HIV-seropositive asymptomatic intravenous drug users (IVDU) and 36 HIV-seronegative and 36 HIV-seropositive homosexuals, 79 patients with lymphadenopathy, 11 patients with AIDS-related complex (ARC) and 110 patients with AIDS. Serum erythropoietin levels were significantly elevated in HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive asymptomatic homosexuals and in patients with lymphadenopathy, ARC and AIDS when compared to controls. However, in asymptomatic HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive IVDU the erythropoietin levels were not significantly different from the control group. GM-CSF mean levels in both HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive IVDU were elevated compared with the level in controls, whereas the mean levels in both the HIV-seronegative and HIV-seropositive homosexuals were decreased relative to the level in controls. GM-CSF levels in patients with lymphadenopathy, ARC and AIDS were not significantly different from the control value. It appears that male homosexuals have mildly increased erythropoietin levels which rise substantially with the development of ARC and AIDS, which suggests that AIDS patients have intact capacity to produce erythropoietin. In contrast, GM-CSF levels are increased in association with IVDU but are not increased in association with HIV infection including ARC or AIDS. The difference in circulating levels of erythropoietin and GM-CSF may reflect the tissue sources of erythropoietin predominantly in the kidney and GM-CSF being a product of the immunological and inflammatory systems.