Impaired pulmonary function after treatment for tuberculosis: the end of the disease? / Comprometimento da função pulmonar após tratamento para tuberculose: o resultado final da doença?

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of pulmonary function abnormalities and to investigate the factors affecting lung function in patients treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: A total of 214 consecutive patients (132 men and 82 women; 20-82 years of age), treated for pulmonary tuberculosis and followed at a local dispensary, underwent spirometry and plethysmography at least one year after treatment. Results: Pulmonary impairment was present in 102 (47.7%) of the 214 patients evaluated. The most common functional alteration was obstructive lung disease (seen in 34.6%). Of the 214 patients, 60 (28.0%) showed reduced pulmonary function (FEV1 below the lower limit of normal). Risk factors for reduced pulmonary function were having had culture-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in the past, being over 50 years of age, having recurrent tuberculosis, and having a lower level of education. Conclusions: Nearly half of all tuberculosis patients evolve to impaired pulmonary function. That underscores the need for pulmonary function testing after the end of treatment.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de alterações da função pulmonar e investigar os fatores que afetam a função pulmonar em pacientes tratados para tuberculose pulmonar. Métodos: Um total de 214 pacientes consecutivos (132 homens e 82 mulheres; 20-82 anos de idade), tratados para tuberculose pulmonar e acompanhados em um dispensário local, foi submetido a espirometria e pletismografia pelo menos um ano após o tratamento. Resultados: O comprometimento pulmonar estava presente em 102 (47,7%) dos 214 pacientes avaliados. A alteração funcional mais comum foi o distúrbio ventilatório obstrutivo (observado em 34,6%). Dos 214 pacientes, 60 (28,0%) apresentaram função pulmonar reduzida (VEF1 abaixo do limite inferior de normalidade). Os fatores de risco para função pulmonar reduzida foram tuberculose pulmonar com cultura positiva no passado, idade acima de 50 anos, recidiva de tuberculose e menor nível de escolaridade. Conclusões: Quase metade de todos os pacientes com tuberculose evolui com comprometimento da função pulmonar. Isso reforça a necessidade de testes de função pulmonar após o término do tratamento.

Historia natural de la tuberculosis, fisiopatogenia de la infección y la enfermedad en el niño / Natural history of tuberculosis, infection and disease pathogenesis in children

The multiple manifestations of tuberculosis (TB) are a result of the relationships between Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the host and the environmental, social and cultural conditions. In TB pathogenesis, three factors must be considered: the virulence of the bacillus, the potential of cellular destruction and caseous necrosis, and the immune response and hypersensitivity to the infection.

La expresión múltiple de la tuberculosis se debe a la relación entre el Mycobacterium tuberculosis, el huésped y las condiciones medioambientales, sociales y culturales. En la patogenia de la tuberculosis se deben tener en cuenta tres factores: la virulencia del bacilo, la capacidad de producir destrucción celular y necrosis caseosa y la respuesta inmunitaria e hipersensibilidad a la infección.

Chronic symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction in post-tuberculosis Brazilian patients

ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Questionnaire and spirometry were applied to post-tuberculosis indigenous and non-indigenous individuals from Dourados, Brazil, to investigate the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction.METHODS:This was a cross-sectional study in cured tuberculosis individuals as reported in the National System on Reportable Diseases (SINAN) from 2002 to 2012.RESULTS:One hundred and twenty individuals were included in the study and the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms was 45% (95% CI, 34-59%). Respiratory symptoms included cough (28%), sputum (23%), wheezing (22%) and dyspnea (8%). These symptoms were associated with alcoholism, AOR: 3.1 (1.2-8.4); less than 4 years of schooling, AOR: 5.0 (1.4-17.7); and previous pulmonary diseases, AOR: 5.4 (1.7-17.3). Forty-one percent (95% CI, 29-56) had pulmonary disorders, of which the most prevalent were obstructive disorders (49%), followed by obstructive disorder with reduced forced vital capacity disorders (46%) and restrictive disorders (5%). The lifestyle difference could not explain differences in chronic symptoms and/or the prevalence of pulmonary dysfunction.CONCLUSION:The high prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and pulmonary dysfunction in post-tuberculosis patients indicates a need for further interventions to reduce social vulnerability of patients successfully treated for tuberculosis.

Assessment of regional lung ventilation by electrical impedance tomography in a patient with unilateral bronchial stenosis and a history of tuberculosis / Avaliacao da ventilacao pulmonar regional por tomografia de impedancia eletrica em paciente com estenose bronquica unilateral pos-tuberculose

Bronchial stenosis can impair regional lung ventilation by causing abnormal, asymmetric airflow limitation. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is an imaging technique that allows the assessment of regional lung ventilation and therefore complements the functional assessment of the lungs. We report the case of a patient with left unilateral bronchial stenosis and a history of tuberculosis, in whom regional lung ventilation was assessed by EIT. The EIT results were compared with those obtained by ventilation/perfusion radionuclide imaging. The patient was using nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Therefore, we studied the effects of postural changes and of the use of nasal CPAP. The EIT revealed heterogeneous distribution of regional lung ventilation, the ventilation being higher in the right lung, and this distribution was influenced by postural changes and CPAP use. The EIT assessment of regional lung ventilation produced results similar to those obtained with the radionuclide imaging technique and had the advantage of providing a dynamic evaluation without radiation exposure.

A estenose brônquica pode comprometer a ventilação pulmonar regional devido a limitações anormais e assimétricas ao fluxo aéreo. A tomografia de impedância elétrica (TIE) é uma técnica que possibilita a avaliação da ventilação pulmonar regional por imagem e, portanto, pode complementar a avaliação funcional dos pulmões. Relatamos o caso de uma paciente com estenose brônquica unilateral à esquerda, pós-tuberculose, em que se avaliou a ventilação pulmonar regional através da TIE, relacionando-a com a cintilografia de ventilação/perfusão. Foram estudados os efeitos das mudanças posturais e da aplicação de continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP, pressão positiva contínua nas vias aéreas) nasal, uma vez que a paciente usava esse tratamento para síndrome da apneia obstrutiva do sono. A TIE demonstrou distribuição heterogênea da ventilação pulmonar regional com maior ventilação no pulmão direito, sendo essa distribuição influenciada pelas mudanças de decúbitos e pela aplicação de CPAP. A análise da ventilação pulmonar regional pela TIE se mostrou similar aos achados da cintilografia pulmonar de ventilação com a vantagem de possibilitar uma avaliação dinâmica e sem exposição à radiação.

Avaliação espirométrica de doentes com sequela de tuberculose submetidos à lobectomia / Spirometry evaluation in patient with tuberculosis sequelae treated by lobectomy

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a espirometria no pré e pós-operatório de doentes com sequela de tuberculose, submetidos à lobectomia. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados 20 doentes, com idade entre 15 e 56 anos, de ambos os sexos, com história pregressa de tratamento de tuberculose, apresentando infecção de repetição ou hemoptises. Foram submetidos à lobectomia pulmonar. O tempo de tratamento da tuberculose foi seis meses e o aparecimento dos sintomas entre um e 32 anos. Foram avaliadas a capacidade vital (CV), a capacidade vital forçada (CVF), o volume expiratório forçado (VEF1), o VEF1/CVF, o fluxo expiratório forçado (FEF) e o pico de fluxo expiratório (PFE) após o primeiro, terceiro e sexto meses em relação ao pré-operatório. O nível de significância (á) aplicado em todos os testes foi 5%, ou seja, considerou-se significativo quando p<0,05. RESULTADOS: As Médias encontradas foram as seguintes: Capacidade Vital (CV) Pré-operatória-2,83 ; 1º PO 2,12; 3º PO 2,31; 6º PO 2,43. Capacidade Vital Forçada (CVF) Pré-operatória- 2,97; 1º PO 2,21; 3º PO 2,35; 6º PO 2,53. Volume Expiratório no 1º Segundo (VEF1) Pré-operatório 2,23; 1º PO 1,75; 3º PO 1,81; 6º PO 1,97. Houve diminuição acentuada das funções respiratórias no primeiro mês de pós-operatório, porém houve melhora dos parâmetros a partir do terceiro mês, com progressivo aumento até o sexto mês de pós-operatório. CONCLUSÃO: Não houve recuperação dos parâmetros espirométricos, comparados aos do pré operatório, após seis meses de pós-operatório nos pacientes com sequela de tuberculose submetidos à lobectomia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate pre and post-operative spirometry in patients with tuberculosis sequelae undergoing lobectomy. METHODS: We selected 20 patients, aged between 15 and 56 years, of both genders, with a history of tuberculosis treatment, with repeated infections or hemoptysis and indication of pulmonary lobectomy. The tuberculosis treatment time was six months, and onset of symptoms, between one and 32. We evaluated and compared vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC, forced expiratory flow (FEF) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) preoperatively and after the first, third and sixth postoperative months (POM). The significance level (á) used in all tests was 5%, ie, it was considered significant when p <0.05. RESULTS: The averages found were: Vital Capacity (VC) - Preoperative: 2.83; 1st POM: 2.12; 3rd POM: 2.31; 6th POM: 2.43. Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) - Preoperative: 2.97; 1st POM: 2.21; 3rd POM: 2.35; 6th POM: 2.53. Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1) - Preoperative: 2.23; 1st POM: 1.75; 3rd POM: 1.81; 6th POM 1.97. There was marked decrease in lung function in the first month after surgery, but there was an improvement of the parameters from the third month, with gradual increase up to the sixth month. CONCLUSION: There was no recovery of preoperative spirometric parameters at six months postoperatively in patients with sequelae of tuberculosis submitted to lobectomy.

Trends and predictors of changes in pulmonary function after treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to investigate the trends in changes in pulmonary function and the risk factors for pulmonary function deterioration in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis after completing treatment. INTRODUCTION: Patients usually have pulmonary function abnormalities after completing treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis. The time course for changes in pulmonary function and the risk factors for deterioration have not been well studied. METHODS: A total of 115 patients with 162 pulmonary function results were analyzed. We retrieved demographic and clinical data, radiographic scores, bacteriological data, and pulmonary function data. A generalized additive model with a locally weighted scatterplot smoothing technique was used to evaluate the trends in changes in pulmonary function. A generalized estimating equation model was used to determine the risk factors associated with deterioration of pulmonary function. RESULTS: The median interval between the end of anti-tuberculosis treatment and the pulmonary function test was 16 months (range: 0 to 112 months). The nadir of pulmonary function occurred approximately 18 months after the completion of the treatment. The risk factors associated with pulmonary function deterioration included smear-positive disease, extensive pulmonary involvement prior to anti-tuberculosis treatment, prolonged anti-tuberculosis treatment, and reduced radiographic improvement after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: After the completion of anti-tuberculosis TB treatment, several risk factors predicted pulmonary function deterioration. For patients with significant respiratory symptoms and multiple risk factors, the pulmonary function test should be followed up to monitor the progression of functional impairment, especially within the first 18 months after the completion of anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Prueba de cosintropina en tuberculosis activa grave / Cosyntropin test in severe active tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Frequency of adrenal insufficiency in patients with tuberculosis varies from 0 to 58%; however, all published series excluded severely ill patients. Our objective was to investigate adrenal insufficiency with the low-dose cosyntropin test in patients with severe active tuberculosis. METHOD: From two large university affiliated hospitals, 18 patients with tuberculosis and criteria of sepsis or severe sepsis according to SCCM/ACCP criteria, defined by the present authors as severe active tuberculosis, participated in the study. A low-dose ACTH test with 10 mg of ACTH was performed. After ACTH test, all patients received a stress dose of hydrocortisone (240 mg/day) during their entire hospitalization along with four antituberculous drugs. Abnormal response was considered when elevation of serum cortisol was <7 microg/dl with respect to basal level, 60 min after ACTH administration. RESULTS: Adrenal insufficiency was found in seven patients (39%); no clinical or laboratory data were associated with the presence of abnormal adrenal response. Except in one patient with HIV infection, all the signs and symptoms improved after antituberculous and hydrocortisone treatment. The increment in serum cortisol value post-ACTH test was lower in patients with hypoalbuminemia. CONCLUSIONS: Adrenal insufficiency is frequent in severe active tuberculosis. The efficacy and security of supplemental steroid treatment in severe active tuberculosis should be established by a randomized clinical trial.

Tuberculose pulmonar / Pulmonary tuberculosis

A tuberculose (TB) é uma doença infecto-contagioda, prevenível e curável, constituindo ainda hoje uma ameaça para a saúde pública no Brasil. A TB nunca deixou de ser um problema do terceiro mundo, em geral. Segundo a Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS), o Brasil ocupa hoje o 14º lugar entre os 23 países responsáveis por 80 por cento do total de casos de tuberculose. No Brasil, desde a década de 1980, vêm sendo notificados em torno de 80 mil a 90 mil casos anuais, mais ou menos estáveis, com uma mortalidade aproximadamente de 6 mil casos por ano. Apresenta-se sob a forma pulmonar ou extrapulmonar. Deve-se fazer o diagnóstico de forma rápida, tendo em vista iniciar logo o tratamento, reduzindo o tempo de transmissão da doença e conseqüentemente o número de infectados.

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious and contagious illness, healing and preventive that still constitute nowadays a treat for the public health in Brazil. TB has always been a third world problem. In accordance with OMS, Brazil rank today the 14th place, among 23 countries responsible for 80 per cent of the cases of TB. In Brazil, since the 80's, around 80 to 90 thousand cases yearly are notified, with mortality nearby 6 thousand cases per annum. Present itself in a pulmonary or extrapulmonary way. The diagnosis must be early, to treat it fast, to reduce the time of transmission and the number of sick patients.

Tuberculosis y SIDA en el niño / HIV associated tuberculosis in children

La reemergencia de la tuberculosis a nivel mundial se vincula a diferentes factores dentro de los cuales está la infección VIH, esto también se ve reflejado en la población pediátrica, planteando dificultades en el diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno, lo que obliga a tratar a nuestros niños por un equipo multidisciplinario.

Aspects épidémiologiques de la tuberculose pulmonaire à bacilloscopie positive au Mali pendant la décennie 1995-2004

Notre etude etait retrospective. Elle concernait l'evolution de l'incidence de la tuberculose pulmonaire a bacilloscopie positive au Mali pendant la decennie 1995 - 2004. Durant cette periode; la TPM+ representait plus de 67;27de l'ensemble des formes confondues de tuberculose sur le territoire malien. Les adultes jeunes etaient les plus touches. La letalite tuberculeuse variait entre 2;52 et 9;12. L'abandon du traitement; l'echec therapeutique; les perdus de vue; les transferts etaient des facteurs determinants de la letalite liee a la tuberculose. Une progression de l'incidence de la TPM+ a ete constatee

Health care seeking pattern of tuberculosis patients attending an urban TB clinic in Delhi.

The study of pattern of health care seeking of tuberculosis patients is important for identification of factors which might influence delayed reporting of tuberculosis cases, especially the open pulmonary cases. Consecutive 301 pulmonary TB patients, belonging to any of the categories under RNTCP, diagnosed at New Delhi Tuberculosis Centre or its sub-centres over a six-month period were assessed for health care seeking pattern. "Delay" was defined as the time over 3 weeks that a case took to report to the area TB facility. 43.2% patients reported to the TB health facility on their own and others were referred by government hospitals (34.9%) and general practitioners (21.9%). Median delay over 3 weeks was 2.69 weeks for all three categories combined, with a significantly higher delay (3.41 weeks) for retreatment cases as compared to new cases (2.13 weeks). No significant differences were observed in health seeking delay in relation to sex, income, literacy status and source of referral and sputum status. Extensive health education activities can reduce this period of delay in health seeking and result in reduction of transmission of tuberculosis to healthy members of the family and community.

Aspectos inmunogenéticos de la tuberculosis pulmonar / Immunogenetic aspects of pulmonary tuberculosis

La tuberculosis tiene una elevada tasa de morbilidad y causa aproximadamente 3 millones de muertes cada año en todo el mundo. Los estudios de la infección por M. tuberculosis han revelado la presencia de factores ambientales y genéticos determinantes en la fisiopatogenia de la tuberculosis. Algunos genes como los del sistema HLA y el TNF-a localizados dentro del complejo principal de histocompatibilidad, entre otros, se han asociado con la susceptibilidad a la tuberculosis en distintos grupos étnicos. En la población mexicana se ha observado que la susceptibilidad a la tuberculosis pulmonar está determinada por los alelos HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQA1*0101 y DQB1*0501. Por otro lado, los individuos con mutaciones en el gen del receptor 1 de IFN-g tienen defectos en el control de infecciones causadas por micobacterias. Hay otros genes que parecen estar involucrados en la susceptibilidad o resistencia a la tuberculosis, algunos de ellos son el receptor de la vitamina D, el gen NRAMP-1 o el gen de la proteína quimiotáctica de macrófagos (MCP-1), entre otros. El estudio de los marcadores genéticos polimórficos en la tuberculosis es importante para definir los mecanismos de susceptibilidad a la infección o a la progresión clínica de la enfermedad.

Riesgo nutricional en pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar: ¿cuestión del paciente o de los servicios de salud? / nutritional risk in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis. A patients or health services issue?

Objetivo. Identificar factores de riesgo nutricional en pacientes con tuberculosis pulmonar (TBP). Material y métodos. Se seleccionaron al azar 185 pacientes con TBP atendidos en dos instituciones de salud de Monterrey, Nuevo León, México, durante 1997. Se identificaron variables antropométricas, socioeconómicas, utilización del servicio de nutrición, accesibilidad a los alimentos, efectos secundarios de drogas antifímicas, y atribución de la enfermedad a la alimentación. El plan de análisis incluyó estadística descriptiva, análisis bivariado y multivariado de regresión logística múltiple, además se estimó razón de prevalencia e intervalos de confianza de 95 por ciento. Resultados. El promedio de edad fue de 42.4ñ19.9 años. La media de índice de masa corpo-ral fue de 19.8ñ3.2 y se encontraban desnutridos 56.8 por ciento del total de los pacientes. El 26.4 por ciento de éstos fue enviado al servicio de nutrición y, únicamente, 24.3 por ciento lo utilizó. El análisis multivariado mostró como factores de riesgo para desnutrición a los efectos secundarios de las drogas antifímicas, independientemente de la edad, sexo, escolaridad, ocupación, tiempo de evolución, accesibilidad a los alimentos, atribución de la enfermedad al tipo de alimentación y utilización del servicio de nutrición (c2=10.58; p=0.0515, r2=0.42). Conclusiones. El riesgo nutricional al que se enfrenta el pacien-te es responsabilidad tanto de éste, por la escasa utilización que hace del servicio de nutrición, como de los servicios de salud, debido a la existencia de barreras de tipo organizacional que dificultan el acceso al servicio de nutrición. Además, la falta de accesibilidad a los alimentos y el impacto de los efectos secundarios de las drogas antifímicas justifican la necesidad de focalizar la atención en este grupo de riesgo.

Tuberculosis pleuropulmonar en el anciano: estudio comparativo con otras edades / Pulmonary tuberculosis in the elderly: an age comparative study

Antecedentes: La tuberculosis es un problema mundial de salud, y los ancianos son una población con alto riesgo de desarrollar la enfermedad. Se ha sugerido que la presentación clínica de la tuberculosis en los ancianos es diferente a la de sujetos más jóvenes. Objetivo: Evaluar diferencias en las características clínicas, radiológicas y de laboratorio de la tuberculosis pulmonar en ancianos y en otras edades. Diseño del Estudio: Se revisaron los expedientes clínicos de 62 ancianos (= 65 años) y de 190 pacientes de menor edad (16-64 años) hospitalizados por tuberculosis en el Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias (Ciudad de México) entre 1991 y 1994. Resultados: Ambos grupos de pacientes tuberculosos tuvieron predominio del sexo masculino (1.8:1) y un gran retardo para el diagnóstico (> 6 meses en cerca del 45 por ciento de los pacientes). La mayoría de los síntomas (tos, fiebre, pérdida ponderal y disnea) fueron similares en ambos grupos, pero la producción de expectoración fue mayor en los ancianos. De la misa manera, en la radiografía de tórax más ancianos presentaron lesiones basales y multilobares. En ambos grupos se encontró anemia y bajos niveles séricos de albúmina. Aunque los demás exámenes de sangre periférica (leucocitos, linfocitos y sodio en comparación con los pacientes más jóvenes. Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la tuberculosis pulmonar tiene una presentación parecida entre ancianos y otras edades, si bien existen algunas diferencias que hay que considerar al momento del diagnóstico

Obtenção da carteira de saúde diante de seqüelas da tuberculose: consideração médico-legais / Obtaining of health card in front of tuberculosis sequels: forensic consideration

Os autores enfocam um problema de natureza médico-social referente à não-admissão em empregos ou à não-concessão de carteira de saúde a portadores de seqüelas grosseiras de tuberculose curada. Valem-se, portanto, de uma casuística de 176 casos, no interregno de 1988 a 1996, observados no Hospital Universitário Lauro Wanderley, da UFPB. Alertam as autoridades competentes para a importância desse problema, visando minimizá-lo ou até mesmo saná-lo.

CD4 T lymphocyte levels and PPD skin test measurements in adult AIDS patients with pulmonary tuberculosis

This pilot study was carried out at the Chonburi General hospital and the zonal tuberculosis [TB] center in Chonburi, Thailand. A total of 22 AIDS patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 20 HIV seronegative pulmonary tuberculosis patients [Controls] were skin tested with 5 tuberculin units [TU] of PPD. Anergy was observed in 82% of AIDS cases, all with very low CD4 counts. The remaining 18% showed skin reactions ranging between 1 mm and 9 mm. The Pearsons correlation coefficient test showed a good correlation between the PPD induration measurement and the absolute CD4 counts. The coefficient r=0.79 [p< 0.001] with the absolute CD4 counts, and r=0.60[P< 0.001] with the percentage of CD4 lymphocytes. In the control group, no such correlation was found and anergy was not observed in any of the patients. Relationship was established between CD4 counts and the PPD skin induration measurement, though with a larger sample size, the association may be better established and may predict the level of CD4 T lymphocytes and hence disease progression, especially in areas of high case load of AIDS and tuberculosis

Perfil sociocultural del paciente tuberculoso / Sociocultural profile of the patient with tuberculosis

Con el objeto de conocer las características socioculturales de los pacientes tuberculosos, se diseño este estudio transversal y descriptivo que incluyó a 250 pacientes con diagnóstico de tuberculosis pulmonar adscritos a unidades del primer nivel de atención del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social en Nuevo León, encuestados por trabajadoras sociales que recabaron los datos de expedientes clínicos y registros de medicina preventiva. Pertenece al sexo masculino 63 por ciento; 42 por ciento tiene entre 20 y 39 años de edad; 62 por ciento no sabe cómo adquirió la enfermedad; 33.6 por ciento desconoce lo que provocó el contagió; 92.9 por ciento ignora el manejo de sus expectoraciones y solamente 2.8 por ciento las incinera. Gran parte de los pacientes están desinformados, frecuentemente no asisten a consulta y son poco adherentes al tratamiento; adicionalmente, los motivos de inasistencia están relacionados con el desconocimiento de la enfermedad y el tratamiento. Se sugiere la unificación de los criterios de manejo en los tres niveles de atención a que tienen acceso los pacientes tuberculosos, y el establecimiento de estrategias aducativas para fortalecer la adherencia a las recomencaciones del personal de salud.