Tuberculosis in patients with HIV-infection

Within 1987-1995 the authors observed 16 cases of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients which accounted for 26.7% of AIDS patients treated by them. 14 cases were diagnosed intravitally, 2 postmortem. Infiltrative, generalized, cavernous, intrathoracic lymph node, intraabdominal lymph node tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy were identified in 5, 6, 2, 1, 1 and 1 patients, respectively. 6 patients from the above are still alive and are receiving treatment (5 of them with infiltrative tuberculosis), 10 died. Tuberculosis course and outcomes in HIV-infected subjects depended on the stage of their immunodeficiency. In moderate immunodeficiency (CD4-lymphocyte > 200/mm(3)) tuberculosis ran, as a rule, as local and infiltrative, sensitive to specific therapy. In severe damage to immune system (CD4 < 100/mm(3)) tuberculosis acquired a generalized course, sometimes fulminant, resistant to treatment. It is inferred that HIV-infected subjects with immunodeficiency need tuberculosis prophylaxis with isoniazide or rifampicin.