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Use of prednisolone in the treatment of HIV-positive tuberculosis patients.

AbstractCorticosteroids are beneficial in the treatment of some forms of tuberculosis, but their role in TB affecting HIV-positive patients is not clear. During a cohort study of tuberculosis patients in Lusaka, Zambia, prednisolone was prescribed for specific indications. Six of 47 (13 per cent) of patients who received prednisolone early in treatment developed herpes zoster, compared with 2 of 118 (2 per cent) of those who did not. Three patients who received prednisolone developed Kaposi's sarcoma, compared with none who did not. At 2 months patients who had received prednisolone showed a greater improvement in generalized lymphadenopathy and cough. Controlled studies of the risks and benefits of administration of corticosteroids to HIV-positive TB patients are urgently needed.
AuthorsA M Elliott, B Halwiindi, A Bagshawe, R J Hayes, N Luo, J O Pobee, K P McAdam (Affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.)
JournalThe Quarterly journal of medicine (Q J Med) 1992 Nov-Dec Vol. 85 Issue 307-308 Pg. 855-60 ISSN: 0033-5622 ENGLAND
PMID1484947 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
Chemical References
  • Prednisolone
Topics
  • AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections (complications, drug therapy)
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cough (drug therapy)
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity (complications)
  • HIV-1 (immunology)
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Diseases (drug therapy)
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
  • Tuberculosis (complications, drug therapy)