[Pulmonary tuberculosis: differences between patients seropositive and seronegative for the acquired immunodeficiency...

423 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis (PT) are described, dividing them into two major groups depending on the presence (Group 1:54 cases) or the absence (Group 2:369 cases) of infection by the Acquired Immunodeficiency Virus, in order to compare their clinical-epidemiological characteristics. 70.37% patients of Group 1 had an age between 15 and 30 years and 72.2% (39 cases) were parenterally drug addicts. In the Group 1, fever, general and digestive symptoms were predominant (p < 0.004, p < 0.01 and p, 0.00001); a miliar profile was observed in 8 cases (14.8%) and the radiology was normal in 7 cases (12.9%), with predominance of condensation semiology and cavitation in Group II (p < 0.003 and p < 0.00001). In addition, we observed extrapulmonary affection in 42.6% cases (23 patients) of Group I (p < 0.0004) and the diagnosis of tuberculosis determined the presence of AIDS in 26 cases (48.1%).