Radiographic features of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients infected by HIV: is there an objective indicator of co-infection?

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical Vol. 34; no. 4; pp. 369 - 372
• Main Authors: de Albuquerque, M de F, Albuquerque, S C, Campelo, A R, Cruz, M, de Souza, W V, Ximenes, R A, de Souza, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Portuguese
• Published: Brazil Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical 01.08.2001; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT; Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Female; HIV Infections - complications; HIV/AIDS; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Radiographic features; Radiography; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - complications; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnostic imaging; HIV/AIDS; Tuberculosis; Tuberculose; Achados radiológicos; Radiographic features
• ISSN: 0037-8682; 1678-9849; 0037-8682; 1678-9849
• DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822001000400010

This study aimed to compare the radiographic characteristics of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with those of HIV-negative patients. In all, 275 TB patients attending the outpatients clinics at the University Hospital/UFPE, were studied from January 1997 to March 1999. Thirty nine (14.2%) of them were HIV(+), with a higher frequency of males in this group (p=0.044). Seventy-five percent of the HIV(+) patients and 19% of the HIV(-) had a negative tuberculin test (PPD) (p < 0.001). The proportion of positive sputum smears in the two groups was similar. The radiological finding most strongly associated with co-infection was absence of cavitation (p < 0.001). It may therefore be concluded that the lack of cavitation in patients with pulmonary TB may be considered a useful indicator of the need to investigate HIV infection. This approach could contribute to increasing the effectiveness of local health services, by offering appropriate treatment to co-infected patients.