IAS 2015Providing tuberculosis treatment to people with very low CD4 counts who are just starting HIV therapy and do not have confirmed TB does not reduce the risk of death compared with giving ARVs and isoniazid preventive therapy for TB, aidsmap reports. Researchers presented findings from the REMEMBER trial at the 8th International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention in Vancouver, British Columbia.

The trial included 850 HIV-positive participants in 11 nations where TB prevalence is high, including countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. The study members had fewer than 50 CD4s (a median of 18) and were getting ready to start ARVs for the virus. They were randomized to receive either a four-drug TB treatment regimen or isoniazid preventive therapy for 24 weeks. If they were ultimately diagnosed with active TB, they were given full treatment for the disease.

The study did not include anyone with active or suspected TB, people who had undergone treatment for the condition during the previous 96 weeks, or those who had taken more than 30 days of isoniazid preventive treatment in the previous 48 weeks.

The TB rate was below what had been projected. A total of 4.8 percent of the full-TB treatment arm died, as did 5.2 percent of the preventive treatment arm. This difference was not statistically significant, meaning it could have occurred by chance.

To read the aidsmap article, click here.