Tuberculosis-associated Immune Reconstitution Inflammatory Syndrome and Unmasking of Tuberculosis by Antiretroviral Therapy

The tuberculosis-associated immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (TB-IRIS) is a frequent early complication of antiretroviral therapy (ART), used to treat HIV-1 infection, especially in countries where TB is prevalent. TB-IRIS is characterized by an exaggerated inflammatory response toward the antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that results in clinical deterioration in patients experiencing immune recovery during early ART. Two forms of TB-IRIS are recognized: paradoxical; and unmasking. Paradoxical TB-IRIS manifests with new or recurrent TB symptoms or signs in patients being treated for TB during early ART, and unmasking TB-IRIS is characterized by an exaggerated, unusually inflammatory initial presentation of TB during early ART. In this review the incidence, clinical features, risk factors, treatment, and prevention of TB-IRIS in adult and pediatric patients are discussed.