Evaluation of clinical and laboratory characteristics of TB/HIV patients in Masih Daneshvari Hospital

TB is a major cause of morbidity and mortality around the world. Due to WHO report, 8.3 million new cases of TB had occurred in 2000 which 9% of them had TB/HIV co-infection.  

In this study we prospectively evaluated TB/HIV patients between 2001– 2003 in a referral center in Iran. Sputum smear and culture was conducted for all patients. In the case of positive culture antibiogram was performed. All blood samples were studied using flowcytometry. We analyzed clinical and laboratory data by SPSS for windows(version 11).  

Fifteen patients included in this study. Thirteen (86.7%) were male. Mean age was 36.9 ± 5.87. Intravenous addiction was the most common route of transmission (86.7%). Eighty percent of patients had history of prison. All patients had pulmonary TB. Two patients had also empyema and pericarditis. Thirteen (86.7%) were smear positive. Eighty percent had HCV co-infection. Mean CD4 count was 229.15 ± 199.45. All patients except one had atypical radiological presentation. Drug induced hepatitis occurred in 20% of patients and 5(33.3%) died. Approximately 78.6% of patients had CD4 count below 350.  

HIV patients had higher rate of mortality and drug induced hepatitis. TB may be AIDS- defining illness in Iran.