Pleural tuberculosis in Harare, Zimbabwe: the relationship between human immunodeficiency virus, CD4 lymphocyte count, granuloma formation and disseminated disease.

Objective: To elucidate the relationship between HIV, CD4+ count and pleural TB.

Method: In a prospective study, 94 patients presenting at two large Harare hospitals with clinically suspected pleural TB were enrolled over a 10-month period. All underwent standardized evaluation, closed pleural aspiration and biopsy.