Radiological response to anti-tuberculosis treatment in HIV - TB dual infection.
Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. B10240)
Dholakia Y, Hira SK ARCON, Mumbai, India
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has been responsible for changing the trends of tuberculosis. There is not only an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis but, due to the immunocompromised state, the clinical presentation and radiological response to therapy are also altered. This retrospective study was designed to assess the radiological response to anti-tuberculosis treatment in dually infected individuals. Fifty-four (30%) of 178 patients with HIV-TB dual infection had no prior exposure to anti-tuberculosis treatment. Of these, 34 patients qualified for the final analysis. At the end of the treatment, 70% showed complete clearance of the initial radiological lesions. This level of radiological clearance is significantly greater than that observed in an HIV negative cohort of incident tuberculosis patients wherein 251/ 656 patients (38%) showed clearance (p = 0.000). Also, significantly lower residual fibrosis was seen among dually-infected patients (p = 0.000). Immunosuppressive conditions prevent development of fibrosis. Our observation of clearance of radiological lesions will be useful for clinicians and radiologists who are increasingly challenged with changing presentation of tuberculosis with the advent of HIV.
Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Tuberculosis, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Incidence, HIV Seropositivity, Retrospective Studies, Human
