A review of efficacy studies of 6-month short-course therapy for tuberculosis among patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus: Differences in study outcomes

W. M. El-Sadr, D. C. Perlman, E. Denning, J. P. Matts, D. L. Cohn

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Six-month regimens that include rifampin for the treatment of tuberculosis in patients without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are recommended because of low percentage of relapses. Whether a similar duration of therapy should be used to treat tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients is unclear. Six studies of patients with HIV-infection and 3 of patients without HIV infection were reviewed and compared. The studies differed in terms of design, eligibility criteria, site of disease, frequency of dosing, dose administration methods, and outcome definitions. Among HIV-infected patients, the following percentages were found: cure, 59.4%-97.1%; treatment success, 34.0%-100%; effective treatment, 29.4%-88.2%; and relapse, 0%-10%. In those without HIV infection, percentages were as follows: cure, 62.3%-88.0%; treatment success, 91.2%-98.8%; effective treatment, 70.6%-83.8%; and relapse, 0%-3.4%. Although the rate of relapse appeared to be higher in some studies of HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis, this review demonstrates the limitation in the use of relapse as the exclusive outcome of interest when comparing studies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)623-632
Number of pages10
JournalClinical Infectious Diseases
Volume32
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 15 2001
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Financial support: NIH (Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS, funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) and AIDS Clinical Trials Group (AI-38858 and AI-46370).

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