Lack of influx of memory T-cells results in non-reactive tuberculin-skin-test (TST) in HIV-infection

Aims: Anergy following the intradermal application of the tuberculin-skin-test (TST) is a hallmark of individuals with advanced HIV-infection. We investigated the relationship between the delayed-type-hypersensitivity reaction in the TST and the presence of different populations of T-lymphocytes by immunohistochemical staining of biopsies from the TST-site in patients with HIV-1 infection. Material and Methods: At 48 to 72 hours following the intradermal injection of tuberculin, sites of injection or induration were sampled from HIV-1-seropositive individuals of a population with a high tuberculosis incidence of…