HIV infection in 567 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Brazil

We studied 567 patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis (APT) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, by using a standardized questionnaire and by testing blood for HIV antibodies. The rate of HIV infection was 3.9% in 1987, 4.8% in 1988, and 5.2% in 1989, and did not differ by sex. It was highest (7.4%) in the 15- to 39-year age group. There was no difference between patients infected and not infected by HIV with regard to education, income, housing, or employment. Among all patients with definite HIV risk behavior, the HIV infection rate was 23.3%, rising to 31.2% among homo/bisexual men and 36.4% among intravenous drug users, and the rate was 6.5% for blood-transfusion recipients. Among patients who denied risk behavior, the rate was 1.2%. Generalized lymphadenopathy and oral candidiasis occurred with greater frequency among HIV-infected patients (p < 0.0001). Applying the World Health Organization 1985 clinical criteria and revised case definition for AIDS, we found, respectively, sensitivities of 34% and 76.9% and specificities of 31% and 26.3%; in the Rio de Janeiro environment, these clinical criteria without HIV serology should not be adopted for tuberculosis patients. For chest radiographs, a significant association was found between HIV infection and the occurrence of atypical images (p = 0.0001), and hilar and/or mediastinal adenopathy (p = 0.0002) and absence of cavities (p = 0.0003). A PPD (purified protein derivative) skin test induration of < 5 mm was identified in 53% of the HIV-positive cases and in 31.3% of the HIV-negative cases. Only 11.5% of HIV-infected APT patients met the Centers for Disease Control 1987 AIDS criteria.