Related Experiment Videos
[Disease caused by Mycobacterium kansasii in patients with HIV infection]
J C Urkijo1, M Montejo, K Aguirrebengoa
1Cátedra de Patología Médica, Universidad del País Vasco, Baracaldo, Vizcaya.
Background:
To describe the clinical features and response to therapy in Mycobacterium kansasii disease among HIV infected patients, an increasing problem in our setting.
Methods:
A retrospective survey of all charts from patients with HIV infection with Mycobacterium kansasii infection recorded between April 1985 and December 1991.
Results:
A total of 13 patients were identified. All of them had clinically significant respiratory tract samples with a definite M. kansasii isolation. Only three had disseminated disease. In all but two cases, CD4 cell count at diagnosis time was lower than 200/mm3. Chest X-ray films showed interstitial pattern (8 cases) or alveolar condensation (3 cases) and lung cavities were seen in 4 patients. All patients with lung disease and one with disseminated disease responded well to anti-tuberculous therapy.
Conclusion:
Mycobacterium kansasii produces disease in advances stages of HIV-induced immunosuppression. The most common primary location is pulmonary, but disseminated forms can also be seen. The infection can be controlled with standard anti-tuberculous therapy.