Conventional facilities of a referral hospital are sufficient to diagnose tuberculous pleuritis as well as disseminated tuberculosis irrespective of HIV infection.

In a prospective study, we investigated whether human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection alters the clinical presentation in patients with tuberculous pleuritis.

Mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood and pleural fluid of patients with tuberculous pleuritis and stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro.

We conclude that conventional facilities of a referral hospital are sufficient to diagnose tuberculous pleuritis as well as disseminated tuberculosis irrespective of HIV infection.