HIV-associated tuberculosis is difficult to diagnose and results in high mortality. Frequent extra-pulmonary presentation, inability to obtain sputum, and paucibacillary samples limits the usefulness of nucleic-acid amplification tests and smear microscopy.Therefore a urine-based, lateral flow, point-of-care, lipoarabinomannan assay (LAM) and the effect of a LAM-guided anti-tuberculosis treatment initiation strategy on mortality was assessed.
This inexpensive urine test for tuberculosis reduced the risk of death among HIV-positive hospital patients in Africa, where the combined effect of the two diseases is a leading cause of mortality.” Researchers found, “in a randomized controlled trial in four counties,” that “the test was associated with a 17% relative risk reduction in all-cause mortality after 8 weeks, possibly because TB treatment was started more quickly and in more patients.”
The findings were published online in The Lancet.This inexpensive urine test for tuberculosis reduced the risk of death among HIV-positive hospital patients in Africa, where the combined effect of the two diseases is a leading cause of mortality.” Researchers found, “in a randomized controlled trial in four counties,” that “the test was associated with a 17% relative risk reduction in all-cause mortality after 8 weeks, possibly because TB treatment was started more quickly and in more patients.”