Hematological abnormalities associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus infection in Côte d'Ivoire

The purpose of this study was to estimate the impact of HIV infection on hematological abnormalities detected during pulmonary tuberculosis in African adults. The charts of all patients over 14 years in whom diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis was confirmed by bacilloscopy and a hemogram was performed were reviewed. Thoracic radiography demonstrated unilateral and bilateral lesions. Two parallel mixed ELISA HIV tests were performed. A total of 98 patients with a mean age of 39 years were included in study. The male/female sex ratio was 0.88. HIV seroprevalence was 65%. Hemograms showed anemia in 95% of cases, leucopenia in 20%, neutropenia in 35%, lymphopenia in 42%, and thrombopenia in 3%. No correlation was found with type of lung disease. Anemia (p = 0.001), leucopenia (p = 0.01) and thrombopenia (p = 0.001) were more extensive in HIV-infected patients. Hematological abnormalities were multiform. Cytopenia was the most frequent disorder and was positively correlated with HIV infection.