ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is well-known for causing wasting. Patients on treatment gain weight and weight loss is associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes. There is limited description of weight loss and its predictors during intensive treatment phase. The objective of this study was to assess the predictors of weight loss during intensive phase and to see if there is any association exists with sputum conversion at the end of intensive phase of treatment. METHODS: Data collected as a part of the prospective TB cohort (Regional Prospective Observational Research for TB India Phase 1) conducted in Pondicherry, Cuddalore and Viluppuram districts of Tamil Nadu were used for this study. Sputum smear and body weight comparison were made in the baseline and at the end of second month of treatment. RESULTS: In all, 726 participants had weight measurements at the two time points and 18.7% had weight loss; mean weight lost being 2.3 kg (SD 3.05). Mean weight loss was more among males (2.4 kg, SD 3.2), diabetics (2.8 kg, SD 3.9) and alcoholics (2.1 kg, SD 2.4). Alcohol consumption was the only predictor of weight loss after adjusting for age, diabetes, marital status and BMI (aRR 1.52, P 0.02). Weight loss was not associated with sputum conversion at the end of second month. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use emerged as the major predictor for weight loss during intensive phase.
Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary , Tuberculosis , Male , Humans , Antitubercular Agents/therapeutic use , Prospective Studies , India/epidemiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/drug therapy , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology , Tuberculosis/drug therapy , Treatment Outcome , Weight LossABSTRACT
Knowledge on the cellular immune responses to infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis has improved drastically in recent years. Though eosinophils and hypereosinophilia are linked with the disease process of tuberculosis, there is paucity of information to prove the actual role played by these polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the existing literature on what is known so far about eosinophils and tuberculosis.
