Anti-retrovirals fight TB
2001-08-29 12:29
Johannesburg - Treatment with anti-retroviral drugs has significantly reduced the incidence of tuberculosis even in developed communities, a University of Cape Town study found.
A total of 378 HIV/Aids patients were treated with anti-retroviral drugs at the university Aids clinic between 1996 and last year. Their results were compared with those of 562 patients who were not treated with the drugs,
visiting the clinic between 1992 and 1996.
The incidence of tuberculosis was 9.9 percent per year in the untreated group and 2.1 percent among the group treated with combination therapy of three anti-retroviral drugs.
The incidence of tuberculosis among the community during both periods was unchanged.
"The data show that treatment with anti-retroviral drugs significantly reduces the incidence of tuberculosis, even in communities with the highest incidence of the disease globally. It would be sound strategy to control Aids-related tuberculosis," said the report published in the South African Medical journal.
- Beeld