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;77444-8

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.