The Hidden Burden of Post-Tuberculosis Lung Disease
While global efforts have successfully increased the rates of tuberculosis (TB) cure, a secondary crisis is emerging: the long-term respiratory morbidity experienced by survivors. Post-tuberculosis lung disease (PTLD) is a heterogeneous condition characterized by chronic respiratory impairment following the completion of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Despite its high prevalence, the underlying biological mechanisms that dictate whether a patient develops a restrictive or obstructive pattern of impairment have remained largely elusive. A landmark prospective study conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, and published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, provides critical insights into the clinical and transcriptomic risk factors that define these distinct PTLD phenotypes.
