[Treatment and retreatment of tuberculosis]

[Controversies in the treatment of extrapulmonary tuberculosis]

Tuberculosis (TB) can spread to any tissue or organ of the body by way of hematogenous or lymphatic dissemination or contiguity. However, pulmonary TB is the most common presentation and the only form of the disease of epidemiologic importance. Consequently, the literature on the various forms of extrapulmonary TB (EPTB) is scant, and most of the published authors are specialists in specific extrapulmonary forms. As a result, in most of the major areas of study of EPTB, recommendations similar to those for pulmonary TB or others based on little or no evidence have been accepted. This lack of evidence is of particular concern in the case of treatment guidelines. The present article reviews important work that has given rise to current treatment guidelines. While most of these guidelines reveal the lack of evidence available on this subject, it can, nevertheless, be concluded that a 6-month treatment regimen similar to that used in patients with pulmonary TB may be sufficient to treat all forms of EPTB, including meningeal disease. The role of steroids and surgery in the treatment of TB affecting different sites is also discussed. Other topics dealt with are the considerations that should be taken into account and the treatment modifications necessary in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus.

[Trends in the incidence of tuberculosis in the area of Seville-South (Spain) during the 1990s]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the hospital area of Seville-South between 1990 and 1999.

METHOD

Study of the incidence of TB in the area's population between 1990 and 1999 by way of periodic survey of informants who were likely to see cases.

RESULTS

The annual incidence of TB rose from 1990 (26.64/105) to its peak in 1992 (38.3/105), stabilized between 1992 and 1995, and later fell to 15.7/105 in 1999. Bacillary cases followed a similar pattern, with a peak of 13.76/105 in 1992 and a low of 6.06/105 in 1998. The annual incidence of TB-AIDS rose between 1990 (2.63/105) and 1995 (9.08/105), and then fell to 4.13/105 by 1999. The highest incidences were in the 25-to-34-year-old range in the periods from 1990 to 1993 (50.74/105) and 1994 to 1996 (61.49/105), whereas the incidence decreased among 55-to-64-year-olds (28.55/105) from 1997 to 1999. The age distribution was affected by rates in the TB-AIDS group, which contributed 48%, 50% and 55% in each period, respectively, for individuals in the 25-to-34-year-old range.

CONCLUSIONS

The annual incidence of TB was 41,1% lower in 1999 than in 1990, as a result of the marked decrease beginning in the middle of the decade. The impact of TB-AIDS patients on the evolution of annual incidence and on age distribution was considerable throughout the decade.

[Characteristics of tuberculosis in a tertiary hospital during the years 1993-1996. Influence of the coinfection with HIV]

To assess and compare epidemiological factors, clinical and radiological signs, laboratory results and drug resistance in patients with tuberculosis (TB) with and without AIDS. Retrospective study of TB diagnosed bacteriologically between January 1993 and December 1996 at Hospital Universitario La Fe. Annual rates were 41.7, 47.1, 34.6 and 43.8 per 100,000 inhabitants in 1993 to 1996, respectively. AIDS was present in 22.4%. TB was pulmonary in 87% and 49.4% in patients without and with AIDS, respectively. Incidence was higher in the 25 to 34 age range. Prior contact with TB patients was established in 19.2% of cases. Pulmonary TB in patients with AIDS presented with normal lung X-rays in 30.1%; 16.2% of these had positive sputum cultures. Pulmonary cavitation was evident in 32.6% of TB patients without AIDS and 6.8% of those with AIDS. Pulmonary TB was diagnosed by culture of sputum taken at the time of admission in 25.9% of non AIDS patients and in 12.4% of patients with AIDS. Extrapulmonary TB was diagnosed by culture in most cases. Such forms predominated among TB plus AIDS patients, with most cases being ganglial and urogenital. Overall drug resistance was 8.3% (7.4% non-AIDS/11.5% AIDS). Primary resistance (PR) was 6.3% and 7.1%, PR to hydrazides was 5% and 5.4%, and secondary resistance was 32.4% and 33.3%. Drug resistance in non-AIDS and AIDS patients, was associated with a history of TB and past treatment (p < 0.009), prior contact with TB patients (p < 0.004) and pulmonary cavitatin (p < 0.02). TB with AIDS tends to occur in a younger population, is often extrapulmonary or with atypical lung involvement. Drug resistance is similar in patients with and without AIDS.

[Comparative study of acute and chronic forms of pleural tuberculosis]

To analyze whether a characteristic pattern distinguishes acute forms (symptoms starting no more than one week earlier) and subacute or chronic forms (symptoms lasting more than one week) of pleural tuberculosis (PT) in our practice. Retrospective analysis of 102 cases of PT diagnosed between 1986 and 1992, comparing the findings of case histories, imaging, pleural biochemistry and cytology, microbiology of sputum, pleural biopsy and fluid, anatomy and pathology studies of the biopsy specimens, course of disease, response to treatment and sequelae after one year and a half. Thirty-two patients (31.4%) had acute PT and 70 (68.6%) had chronic forms. LDH levels and the percentage of pleural nuclear polymorphism were higher in acute cases, while the concurrence of systemic involvement and lymphocytic predominance was more often seen in chronic cases. Other data analyzed were similar in both groups. No specific clinical or X-ray profiles or differences in course of disease and response to treatment distinguishes between acute and chronic forms of PT after 7 days. Only LDH levels and cytology results differentiated acute forms and, occasionally, such cases were indistinguishable from pneumonia-like effusion.