Safety and effectiveness of HAART in tuberculosis-HIV co-infected patients in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly reduces tuberculosis (TB) incidence among persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), but the safety and effectiveness of concomitant treatment for both diseases remain unclear. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of ART and anti-tuberculosis treatment on survival and risk of adverse events (AE) among co-infected individuals. METHODS: In a retrospective cohort study, clinical data were collected from 618 TB-HIV patients treated with rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide ± ethambutol between 1 January 1995 and 31 December 2003. Patients were categorized into two groups: highly active ART (HAART) or no ART. Different HAART regimens were evaluated. Bivariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression were used. RESULTS: One-year mortality was lower for patients receiving HAART (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.17, 95%CI 0.09-0.31) compared to no ART. HAART increased the risk of AE (aHR 2.08, 95%CI 1.29-3.36). The odds of AE when receiving a ritonavir + saquinavir HAART regimen was eight-fold higher compared to no ART (OR 8.31, 95%CI 3.04-22.69), while efavirenz-based HAART was not associated with a significantly increased risk of AE (OR 1.42, 95%CI 0.76-2.65). CONCLUSION: HIV patients with TB have significantly better survival if they receive HAART during anti-tuberculosis treatment. Efavirenz-based HAART is associated with fewer AEs than protease inhibitor-based HAART.

Prevalence of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in an HIV/AIDS reference hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

SETTING: A reference hospital for tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune-deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) with a TB control programme in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of resistance to anti-tuberculosis drugs and to identify associated factors. DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study, clinical and laboratory data were collected retrospectively from 2001 to 2005. Patients with isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and available drug susceptibility tests were considered eligible. Data on demographic characteristics, risk factors for resistance, HIV serology and past TB history were collected and analysed by chi(2) Mann-Whitney test and Poisson regression. RESULTS: We analysed 350 treatments, of which 62 were for patients with previous TB. HIV status was positive in 31.2% of cases. Resistance was found in 15.7% and multidrug resistance (MDR) in 4.3% of cases. Previous treatment (P < 0.001) and relapse within 2 years were associated with resistance (P < 0.03). Pulmonary cavities were associated with MDR (P < 0.001). Homelessness was associated with any resistance in newly diagnosed patients (P < 0.01). Working in a hospital was not associated with resistance. CONCLUSION: Suspicion of drug-resistant disease is necessary in patients with a history of previous TB in hospitals in Rio de Janeiro. The implementation of an effective hospital TB control programme can prevent transmission even in high TB prevalence settings.