Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) associated tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global public health challenge, with an estimated 1.4 million patients worldwide. Co-infection with HIV leads to challenges in both the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Further, there has been an increase in rates of drug resistant tuberculosis, including multi-drug (MDR-TB) and extensively drug resistant TB (XDRTB), which are difficult to treat and contribute to increased mortality. Because of the poor performance of sputum smear microscopy in HIV-infected patients, newer diagnostic tests are urgently required that are not only sensitive and specific but easy to use in remote and resource-constrained settings. The treatment of co-infected patients requires antituberculosis and antiretroviral drugs to be administered concomitantly; challenges include pill burden and patient compliance, drug interactions, overlapping toxic effects, and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome. Also important questions about the duration and schedule of anti-TB drug regimens and timing of antiretroviral therapy remain unanswered. From a programmatic point of view, screening of all HIV-infected persons for TB and vice-versa requires good co-ordination and communication between the TB and AIDS control programmes. Linkage of co-infected patients to antiretroviral treatment centres is critical if early mortality is to be prevented. We present here an overview of existing diagnostic strategies, new tests in the pipeline and recommendations for treatment of patients with HIV-TB dual infection.

Background. Nevirapine (NVP) can be safely and effectively administered once-daily but has not been assessed in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with tuberculosis (TB). We studied the safety and efficacy of once-daily NVP, compared with efavirenz (EFV; standard therapy); both drugs were administered in combination with 2 nucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitors. Methods. An open-label, noninferiority, randomized controlled clinical trial was conducted at 3 sites in southern India. HIV-infected patients with TB were treated with a standard short-course anti-TB regimen (2EHRZ(3)/4RH(3);[2 months of Ethambutol, Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Pyrazinamide / 4 months of Isoniazid and Rifampicin] thrice weekly) and randomized to receive once-daily EFV at a dose of 600 mg or NVP at a dose of 400 mg (after 14 days of 200 mg administered once daily) with didanosine 250/400 mg and lamivudine 300 mg after 2 months. Sputum smears and mycobacterial cultures were performed every month. CD4+ cell count, viral load, and liver function test results were monitored periodically. Primary outcome was a composite of death, virological failure, default, or serious adverse event (SAE) at 24 weeks. Both intent-to-treat and per protocol analyses were done, and planned interim analyses were performed. Results. A total of 116 patients (75%[87 patients] of whom had pulmonary TB), with a mean age of 36 years, a median CD4+ cell count of 84 cells/mm(3), and a median viral load of 310 000 copies/mL, were randomized. At 24 weeks, 50 of 59 patients in the EFV group and 37 of 57 patients in the NVP group had virological suppression (P =.024). There were no deaths, 1 SAE, and 5 treatment failures in the EFV arm, compared with 5 deaths, 2 SAEs, and 10 treatment failures in the NVP arm. The trial was halted by the data and safety monitoring board at the second interim analysis. Favorable TB treatment outcomes were observed in 93% of the patients in the EFV arm and 84% of the patients in the NVP arm (P =.058). Conclusions. Compared with a regimen of didanosine, lamivudine, and EFV, a regimen of once-daily didanosine, lamivudine, and NVP was inferior and was associated with more frequent virologic failure and death. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT00332306.

BACKGROUND Our aim was to study the incidence and pattern of dyslipidemia among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with tuberculosis (TB) who received once-daily antiretroviral therapy (ART). METHODS Antiretroviral-naive HIV-infected patients with TB were recruited to a trial of once-daily nonnucleoside reverse-transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-based ART and treated with rifampicin-based thrice-weekly antituberculosis treatment (ATT); participants were randomized to receive didanosine (250/400 mg) and lamivudine (300 mg) with either efavirenz (600 mg) or nevirapine (400 mg) once-daily after an intensive phase of ATT. Fasting triglyceride (TG) level, total cholesterol (TC) level, low-density cholesterol (LDL-c) level and high-density cholesterol (HDL-c) level were measured at baseline and at 6 and 12 months. Lipid levels at 6 and 12 months were compared with baseline values with use of repeated measures analyses. McNemar test was used to compare the proportion of patients with lipid abnormality at baseline versus at 12 months, and χ² test was used to compare between the 2 groups. RESULTS Of 168 patients (79% men; mean age, 36 years; mean weight, 42 kg; median CD4+ cell count, 93 cells/mm³), 104 received efavirenz-based ART, and 64 received nevirapine-based ART. After 6 months, TC levels increased by 49 mg/dL, LDL-c levels by 30 mg/dL, and HDL-c levels increased by 18 mg/dL (P <.001 for all). At baseline and at 12 months, TC was >200 mg/dL for 1% and 26% of patients, respectively; LDL-c level was >130 mg/dL for 3% and 23%, respectively; HDL-c level was <40 mg/dL for 91% and 23%, respectively; and blood glucose level was >110 mg/dL for 14% and 13%, respectively. TC level >200 mg/dL was more common among patients who received efavirenz than among those who received nevirapine (32% vs 16%; P =.04). CONCLUSIONS HIV-infected patients with TB who initiate NNRTI-based ART undergo complex changes in lipid profile, highlighting the importance of screening and treating other cardiovascular disease risk factors in this population.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic has led to an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis globally, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Coinfection with HIV leads to difficulties in both the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis. Because of the poor performance of sputum smear microscopy in HIV-infected patients, more sensitive tests-such as liquid culture systems, nucleic acid amplification assays, and detection of mycobacterial products in various body fluids-are being investigated. The treatment of coinfected patients requires antituberculosis and antiretroviral drugs to be administered concomitantly; challenges include pill burden and patient compliance, drug interactions, overlapping toxic effects, and immune reconstitution syndrome. Both multidrug-resistant and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis can spread rapidly among an immunocompromised population, with resulting high mortality rates. Current guidelines recommend starting antiretroviral treatment within a few weeks of antituberculosis therapy for patients with CD4 cell counts <350 cells/microL; however, important questions about the drug regimens and timing of antiretroviral therapy remain. Ongoing trials may answer many of these unresolved questions.

Background. There is limited information on the relative proportion of reactivation and reinfection at the time of recurrence among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and HIV-uninfected patients who are successfully treated for tuberculosis infection in India. Methods. HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected patients with sputum culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis were treated with short-course regimens and followed up for 36 months at the Tuberculosis Research Centre, South India. Bacteriologic recurrences were documented, and typing of strains was performed using 3 different genotypic techniques: restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) by IS6110, spoligotyping, and mycobacterial interspersed repeat unit (MIRU)-variable number tandem repeat (VNTR). DNA fingerprints of paired Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates (baseline and recurrence) were compared. Results. Among 44 HIV-infected and 30 HIV-uninfected patients with recurrent tuberculosis during the period July 1999 to October 2005, 25 and 23 paired isolates, respectively, were typed using all 3 methods. Recurrence was due to exogenous reinfection in 88% of HIV-infected and 9% of HIV-uninfected patients ([Formula: see text]). Among recurrent isolates, the HIV-infected patients showed more clustering, as well as a higher proportion of drug resistance, including multidrug resistance. Conclusions. In India, a tuberculosis-endemic country, most recurrences after successful treatment of tuberculosis are due to exogenous reinfection in HIV-infected persons and endogenous reactivation in HIV-uninfected persons. Strategies for prevention and treatment of tuberculosis infection must take these findings into consideration.

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BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Antiretroviral drug concentrations are important determinants of clinical response to a drug accounting for both toxicity and efficacy. Several factors such as age, ethnicity, body weight and patients' immune status may influence antiretroviral drug concentrations. The aim of the study was to determine the influence of immunological status, sex and body mass index on the steady state pharmacokinetics of lamivudine (3TC) and stavudine (d4T) in HIV-infected adults, who were undergoing treatment with generic fixed dose combinations (FDC) of these drugs in India. METHODS: Twenty seven HIV-1 infected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART) for at least two weeks at the Government ART clinic at Tambaram, Chennai, took part in the study. Serial blood samples were collected predosing and at different time points after drug administration. Plasma 3TC and d4T levels were estimated by HPLC. RESULTS: The patients' immune status, sex or body mass index had no impact on the pharmacokinetics of 3TC. In the case of d4T, peak concentration was significantly lower in patients with CD4 cell counts < 200 cells/mul than those with>/= 200 cells/ mul (P < 0.05), but were within the therapeutic range. The mean CD4 cell counts increased from 101 cells/mul at initiation of ART to 366 cells/mul at 12 months of treatment. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Blood levels of 3TC and d4T drugs that are part of generic FDCs commonly used by HIV-infected individuals in India were within the therapeutic range and not influenced by nutritional or immune status. There was a significant improvement in CD4 cell counts over 12 months of treatment. Indian generic FDCs manufactured and used widely in the developing world provide effective concentrations of antiretroviral drugs.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Variability in the clinical outcome of persons exposed to and infected with HIV-1 and tuberculosis (TB) is determined by multiple factors including host genetic variations. The aim of the present study was to find out whether chemokine, chemokine receptor and DC-SIGN gene polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility or resistance to HIV and HIV-TB in south India. METHODS: CCR2 V64I (G/A), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)-2518 A/G, stromal cell derived factor-1alpha;(SDF-1alpha) 3'UTR G/A and DC-SIGN gene polymorphisms were studied by polymerase chain reaction based methods in HIV-1 infected patients without TB (n=151), with pulmonary TB (PTB)(n=81) and extrapulmonary TB (n=31), 155 PTB patients without HIV and 206 healthy controls. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of CCR2 V64I, MCP-1 -2518 and DC-SIGN polymorphisms did not differ significantly between the study groups. A significantly increased frequency of GG genotype of SDF-1alpha polymorphism was observed among HIV+PTB+ patients compared to healthy controls (P=0.009, Pc=0.027). INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that GG genotype of SDF-1alpha 3'UTR polymorphism may be associated with susceptibility to PTB in HIV-1 infected patients. A better understanding of genetic factors that are associated with TB could help target preventive strategies to those HIV patients likely to develop tuberculosis.

Abstract We have shown the association of HLA-A*11 with resistance and HLA-B*40 and -DR2 with susceptibility to HIV and HIV-TB. In the present study, we performed high-resolution subtyping of HLA-A*11 and -B*40 to identify the subtype level association, using the polymerase chain reaction-based sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe method. Underrepresentation of HLA-A*1101 was observed in overall HIV [p(c)= 0.012, OR 0.42 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.24-0.72)] and HIV(+)TB(+)[p(c)= 0.001, OR 0.18 (95% CI 0.06-0.46)] compared to healthy controls. Significantly higher frequencies of HLA-B*4006 were observed in overall HIV [p = 0.0001, p(c)= 0.004, OR 2.71 (95% CI 1.58-4.75)], HIV(+)TB(-)[p = 0.0003, p(c)= 0.008, OR 2.82 (95% CI 1.56-5.17)], and HIV(+)TB(+)[p = 0.003, p(c)= 0.086, OR 2.56 (95% CI 1.33-4.95)] compared to healthy controls. An in silico analysis of potential T cell epitopes of consensus Gag and Pol sequences of HIV-1 subtype C Indian strains revealed relatively higher number of promiscuous HLA-B40, HLA-DRB1*1501, and -DRB1*1502 (HLA-DR2)-restricted epitopes in contrast to limited numbers of promiscuous binders restricted by HLA-A*1101. The results suggest that HLA-A*1101 may be associated with protection against HIV and the development of TB in HIV patients while HLA-B*4006 may be associated with susceptibility to HIV and TB development in HIV patients. The present study also suggests that the extent of promiscuity of T cell epitopes of HIV-1 subtype C restricted by HLA alleles exerting opposing effects might differ.

We have shown earlier the association of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A11 with resistance and HLA-B40 and -DR2 with susceptibility to HIV and HIV-TB. In the present study, we have attempted to find out the HLA-DR2 subtypes and the possible HLA-A/-B/-DRB1 haplotype combinations that are associated with susceptibility or resistance to HIV and HIV with pulmonary tuberculosis (HIV+PTB+). HLA-DR2 subtyping was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-based sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe method. Overrepresentation of HLA-DRB1*1501 in HIV-positive PTB-negative (HIV+PTB-) patients (P = 0.004, P(c)= 0.06) and -DRB1*1502 in HIV-positive PTB-positive (HIV+PTB+) patients (P = 0.019) was observed as compared to healthy controls. Haplotype analysis revealed an increased frequency of HLA-A2-DRB1*1501 haplotype in HIV+PTB- patients (P = 0.008) and HLA-A2-DRB1*1502 among HIV+PTB+ patients (P = 0.01) compared to healthy controls. The haplotypes B40-DRB1*1501 and B40-DRB1*04 were found to be moderately increased in HIV+PTB- and HIV+PTB+ patients (P < 0.05). The study suggests that HLA-A2-DRB1*1501 haplotype may be associated with HIV infection while HLA-A2-DRB1*1502 haplotype might be associated with susceptibility to PTB in HIV patients. Moreover, HLA-B40-DRB1*1501 and HLA-B40-DRB1*04 haplotypes may be associated with susceptibility to HIV infection and to PTB in HIV patients.