The study included 87 patients: 96.5% HIV-1; 92.0% Caucasian; 79.3% male; mean age 41 years [25-76]; 9.2% were foreigners (5,7% from Sub-Saharian Africa); HCV co-infection in 49.4% and 51.7% with history of drug addiction.
TB was the initial manifestation of HIV infection in 52.9% and AIDS-defining in 71.3%. TB predominately occurred in late stages of HIV infection (74.7% had CD4 + T cells ≤ 200/mm3). The average time between diagnosis of HIV infection and TB was 3.9 years. Clinical features were mainly respiratory (71.8%) and fever (66.3%). Chest -- ray most frequently showed multifocal involvement (50.6%). Tuberculin test was reactive in 14 cases (n = 27). Respiratory secretion culture was positive in 83.9% - of these, 36.8% had positive Ziehl-Neelson (ZN) staining. Resistance to 1 or more anti-TB drugs was found in 12.6% (n = 11). There were 2 cases of multirresistance and 1 extensively resistance (XDR). Other pulmonary diseases were associated in 13.8%. HRZE was the most frequent treatment regimen and 14.9% did not complete it due to loss in follow-up. The average time of treatment was 7 months. Mortality rate was 18.4%.