Tuberculin diagnostics in pulmonary tuberculosis combined with HIV-infection

Aim. To evaluate the sensitivity to tuberculin in patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis in combination with an infection, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), using various different tests. Methods. Examined were patients with infiltrative pulmonary tuberculosis with HIV infection (134 patients, the main group) and without HIV infection (100 patients, control group). Tuberculin diagnostics included an intradermal Mantoux test with 2 tuberculin units, the skin prick test with a 100% solution of PPD-L and the intradermal test «Diaskintest». Results. In the main group, a positive reaction to the Mantoux test with 2 tuberculin units was reported significantly less frequently (56.0%) than in the comparison group (89.0%), the diagnostic value of the test decreased with a decrease in the number of CD4+ lymphocytes. The prick test was characterized by a complete correlation with the results of the Mantoux test, although having a number of advantages. The sensitivity of the «Diaskintest» in the main group was 48.3%, and in the control group - 84.6%, at the same time the sensitivity of the «Diaskintest» decreased to 17% in cases of pronounced immunodeficiency. Conclusion. The skin prick test can be used as a screening method for early detection of tuberculosis in HIV-infected individuals with CD4+ lymphocyte count of 300 cells in 1 ml or more with the aim of forming risk groups, followed by screening for tuberculosis.

tuberculosis, HIV infection, tuberculin diagnostics, Mantoux test, prick test, «Diaskintest»