ART Reduces TB Risk, Even in High-Income Countries

However, the benefit is not seen in patients who start ART at very low CD4-cell counts.

Quantifying the effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART) on the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected patients has been difficult. Several studies have shown a lower rate of TB among HIV-infected patients who are receiving ART than among those who are not. However, during the first few months of treatment, TB rates may be elevated because of immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS).

In the present study, investigators estimated the effect of ART on TB incidence in high-income countries, using data from 12 cohorts in Europe and the U.S. The analysis was limited to 65,121 HIV-infected patients who were antiretroviral-naive at the time of enrollment, between 1996 and 2007.

During a median follow-up of 28 months, 712 patients rec…

Reviewing Author

Carlos del Rio, MD

ART Reduces TB Risk, Even in High-Income Countries

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Reviewing Author