High incidence of tuberculin skin test conversion among HIV-infected individuals who have a favourable immunological response to highly active antiretroviral therapy

A total of 129 HIV-infected individuals who were tuberculin skin test (TST) negative in 1997 and started highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) after skin testing, received a second TST during 2000. Seven patients converted to a positive TST. In multivariate analysis, an increase in CD4 T lymphocyte count more than 200 x 10(6)/l over baseline was significantly associated with TST conversion. TST should be repeated in TST-negative HIV-infected individuals who experience an immunological response to HAART.