Clinical and microbiological features of HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis in Vietnamese adults.
METHODS
The aim of this prospective, observational cohort study was to determine the clinical and microbiological features, outcome, and baseline variables predictive of death, in Vietnamese adults with HIV-associated tuberculous meningitis (TBM). 58 patients were admitted to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ho Chi Minh City and underwent routine clinical and laboratory assessments. Treatment was with standard antituberculous therapy and adjunctive dexamethasone; antiretroviral therapy was not routinely available. Patients were followed up until the end of TB treatment or death.


RESULTS
The median symptom duration was 11 days (range 2-90 days), 21.8% had a past history of TB, and 41.4% had severe (grade 3) TBM. The median CD4 count was 32 cells/mm(3). CSF findings were as follows: median leucocyte count 438 x 10(9)cells/l (63% neutrophils), 69% smear positive and 87.9% culture positive. TB drug resistance rates were high (13% mono-resistance 32.6% poly-resistance 8.7% multidrug resistance). 17% patients developed further AIDS-defining illnesses. 67.2% died (median time to death 20 days). Three baseline variables were predictive of death by multivariate analysis: increased TBM grade [adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) 1.73, 95% CI 1.08-2.76, p = 0.02], lower serum sodium (AHR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.98, p = 0.002) and decreased CSF lymphocyte percentage (AHR 0.98, 95% CI 0.97 to 0.99, p = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-associated TBM is devastating disease with a dismal prognosis. CSF findings included CSF neutrophil predominance, high rates of smear and culture positivity, and high rates of antituberculous drug resistance. Three baseline variables were independently associated with death: increased TBM grade; low serum sodium and decreased CSF lymphocyte percentage.
Torok
M Estee
ME
Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. etorok@oucru.org
Chau
Tran Thi Hong
TT
Mai
Pham Phuong
PP
Phong
Nguyen Duy
ND
Dung
Nguyen Thi
NT
Chuong
Ly Van
LV
Lee
Sue J
SJ
Caws
M
M
de Jong
Menno D
MD
Hien
Tran Tinh
TT
Farrar
Jeremy J
JJ
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014390:Tuberculosis, Meningeal / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology
D000995:Antitubercular Agents