Abstract

No increased prevalence of adrenocortical insufficiency in human immunodeficiency virus-associated tuberculosis

Hawken MP, Ojoo JC, Morris JS, Kariuki EW, Githui WA, Juma ES, Gathua SN, Kimari JN, Thiong'o LN, Raynes JG, Broadbent P, Gilks CF, Otieno LS, McAdam KP
Tuber Lung Dis. 1996;77

Permenent descriptor

SETTING: Acute medical wards, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi, Kenya. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of adrenocortical insufficiency in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infected and non-infected patients with tuberculosis. DESIGN: One hundred and seventy-four patients with proven tuberculosis (90 HIV-1 positive and 84 HIV-1 negative) were assessed for adrenocortical insufficiency with a 30 min synacthen stimulation test. RESULTS: Fifty-one percent of those with pulmonary tuberculosis and 56% of those with extra-pulmonary tuberculosis had a subnormal cortisol response. However there was no statistically significant difference between the HIV-1 infected and non-infected patients in either group. CONCLUSION: While an impaired cortisol response is common in tuberculosis, it is no more prevalent in HIV-1 infected patients than non-infected patients with tuberculosis.