Outcome of HIV-associated tuberculosis in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy.
BACKGROUND
The benefit of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the treatment of patients coinfected with tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is unclear because of concerns about treatment-related complications.


METHODS
We compared outcomes in patients starting TB treatment during the pre-HAART era (before 1996; n=36) with those in patients starting treatment during the HAART era (during or after 1996; n=60).


RESULTS
During a median of 3.6 years of follow-up, 49 patients died or had an AIDS event. Compared with patients in the pre-HAART group, those in the HAART group had a lower risk of death (cumulative at 4 years, 43% vs. 22%; P=.012) and of death or having an AIDS event (69% vs. 43%; P=.023). Event risk within the first 2 months of TB treatment was exceptionally high in patients with CD4(+) cell counts <100 cells/mm(3) and declined thereafter. HAART use during follow-up was associated with a marked reduction in event risk (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.38 [95% confidence interval, 0.16-0.91]).


CONCLUSIONS
HAART substantially reduces new AIDS events and death in coinfected patients. Those with a CD4(+) cell count <100 cells/mm(3) have a high event risk during the intensive phase of anti-TB treatment. These data should be taken into account when deciding to delay HAART in coinfected patients with CD4(+) cell counts <100 cells/mm(3).
Department of Thoracic and HIV Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, London, United Kingdom. k.dheda@ucl.ac.uk.
Keertan
K
Dheda
Fiona C
FC
Lampe
Margaret A
MA
Johnson
Marc C
MC
Lipman
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000401:mortality
D000995:Antitubercular Agents