title: Epidemiological and clinical patterns of 92 patients co-infected with HIV and Mycobacterium leprae from Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many articles have shown that HIV infection can modify the clinical course of leprosy, but very scant epidemiological and clinical data about this co-infection are available in the peer-reviewed literature.
  
  
  METHODS
  We herein describe the geographical distribution and demographic characteristics of 92 HIV/Mycobacterium leprae co-infected patients assisted in a Brazilian Leprosy referral center. A multivariate analysis was performed in order to establish clinical factors associated with type 1 reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-infected patient admissions have steadily increased over the last years at this referral center. Most patients were men, with a mean age of 32.3 years and presenting with the paucibacillary form of leprosy. The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was the only factor associated with type 1 reaction. Most patients were living in the metropolitan area and the north sub area of Rio de Janeiro City.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Co-infected patients receiving ART have a greater chance to develop type 1 reaction. Patients living with both HIV and leprosy are likely to live in regions characterized by a high density impoverished population.
authors.affiliation: Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: José Augusto C
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Nery
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sales
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Maria Clara G
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Galhardo
authors.forename: Francisco I
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Euzenir N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Sarno
authors.forename: Mariana A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hacker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009166:Mycobacterium leprae; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Brazil; Leprosy and HIV co-infection; Social geography of leprosy; Type 1 reaction