Alcohol drinking delays the rate of sputum smear conversion among DR-TB patients in northwest Ethiopia; A retrospective follow-up study

Effects of 25-hydroxy vitamin D on T lymphocyte subsets and sputum smear conversion during anti-tuberculosis treatment

Objectives This study was aimed to explore the effects of 25-hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D] on T lymphocyte subsets and sputum smear conversion during anti-tuberculosis (TB) treatment. Methods 120 newly diagnosed active pulmonary TB patients were collected and classified into vitamin D sufficiency group, vitamin D insufficiency group, and vitamin D deficiency group according to serum 25(OH)D levels. The clinical data and sputum smear conversion were collected, serum 25(OH)D and T lymphocyte subsets were also measured and compared. Results Our data showed that 25(OH)D levels reached the lowest point at 2 months of anti-TB treatment. Significant differences existed in the increase of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells based on vitamin D levels. Vitamin D sufficiency group had a significantly higher increase of CD4+ T cells during 6 months of anti-TB treatment and CD8+ T cells after 4 months of anti-TB treatment than the other groups. Vitamin D had no effect on the time to sputum smear conversion [vitamin D sufficiency group: adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.27 (95% CI: 0.78 - 2.06); vitamin D insufficiency group: adjusted HR: 1.05 (95% CI: 0.63 - 1.75)]. Conclusions Through null effects on sputum smear conversion, vitamin D may have a beneficial effect on the increase of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells during anti-TB treatment.