Endobronchial tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the presence of endobronchial tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients.

Methods: Review of the clinical records of HIV-infected patients in whom diagnostic bronchoscopy was performed because of pulmonary signs or symptoms during a 3-year period.

Results: Seventy bronchoscopies were performed in 59 HIV-infected patients. tuberculosis was diagnosed in 25 patients, of whom six showed endobronchial tuberculosis. The most noteworthy radiological finding was mediastinal and/or hilar lymphadenopathy in five patients, occasionally associated with chest miliary infiltrates (in one), or a small pleural effusion (in two). Chest radiograph was normal in one case. The endoscopic findings were hyperaemia in five, caseating bronchial masses in four, or protrusion of extratracheal lymph nodes (broad, thickened carina and patchy bronchial lesions) in three out of the six patients. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection was confirmed by smear and culture from bronchial aspirate, bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial biopsies. In three cases the diagnosis was confirmed by transcarinal needle mediastinal puncture aspiration. Tuberculosis was the first opportunistic pulmonary infection in every case. The clinical course with standard treatment was satisfactory in all cases with no bronchial sequelae.

Conclusion: Endobronchial tuberculosis may be more frequent than suspected in HIV-infected patients. Routine fibrobronchoscopy in HIV-positive patients with tuberculosis could show the true frequency of endobronchial tuberculosis.