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. 2004 Aug;59(8):704–707. doi: 10.1136/thx.2003.019224

Paradoxical reactions during tuberculosis treatment in patients with and without HIV co-infection

R Breen 1, C Smith 1, H Bettinson 1, S Dart 1, B Bannister 1, M Johnson 1, M Lipman 1
PMCID: PMC1747098  PMID: 15282393

Abstract

Background: It has been suggested that deterioration of tuberculosis (TB) during appropriate treatment, termed a paradoxical reaction (PR), is more common and severe in HIV positive individuals on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).

Method: A study was undertaken to determine the frequency of PR and its associated features in a population of HIV+TB+ patients and a similar sized group of HIV–TB+ individuals.

Results: PR occurred in 28% of 50 HIV+TB+ patients and 10% of 50 HIV–TB+ patients. Disseminated TB was present in eight of 13 HIV+TB+ patients and four of five HIV–TB+ patients with PR. In 28 HIV+TB+ patients starting HAART, PR was significantly associated with commencing HAART within 6 weeks of starting antituberculosis treatment (p = 0.03) and was more common in those with disseminated TB (p = 0.09). No association was found between development of PR and baseline CD4 count or CD4 response to HAART.

Conclusions: PR is common in HIV infected and uninfected individuals with TB. Early introduction of HAART and the presence of disseminated TB appear to be important in co-infected patients.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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