FUNDING ORGANIZATION	RESEARCH ORGANIZATION	PROGRAM	DIRECTOR	CITY	COUNTRY	ABSTRACT
	SIDA	OROMIA REGIONAL HEALTH BUREAU	ASSESSMENT OF IMMUNOSUPPRESSION IN HIV INFECTED PATIENTS WITH TUBERCULOSIS WITH ACCESS TO ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN RESOURCE LIMITED SETTINGS	BJÖRKMAN, PER	ADDIS ABABA	ETHIOPIA	View
This project aims to assess a clinical scoring system for evaluation of immunosuppression in HIV-infected patients with tuberculosis (TB) in Ethiopia. The score contains 15 items based on clinical examination. Results of scoring will be correlated with CD4 cell counts, recommended CD4 cut-off levels for initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and TB treatment outcome. At diagnosis of TB, patients will undergo HIV testing and clinical scoring. HIV-positive participants will be followed longitudinally with repeated scoring and CD4 cell testing. HIV-negative TB patients will serve as a control group. Blood for further immunological analyses will be collected. Finding simple alternative methods for assessment of TB/HIV co-infected patients could improve management and facilitate scaling up of ART and integration to peripheral levels of the health care system in resource-limited settings.