Nontuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis caused by slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria as pulmonary comorbidity

<b>Aim:</b> To study clinical and functional features of nontuberculous pulmonary mycobacteriosis (NTPM) caused by slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria. Materials and methods: We studied 166 patients. In 79 of them the underlying disease was associated with mycobacteriosis, including 37% chronic bronchitis (CB), 25% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 20% bronchoectatic disease (BED), and 18% pulmonary TB (TB) patients. In 87 patients chronic lung disease was not associated with NTPM, including 36% CB, 26% COPD, 21% BED, and 17% TB patients. <b>Results:</b> In NTPM-associated CB patients clinical and laboratory features did not differ from the controls but decrease in functional rates occurred twice oftener: MEF 50 (54.9±3.1% PV) or MEF 75 (59.2±4.6%&nbsp;PV). NTPM did not significantly worsen clinical features or pulmonary ventilation function in COPD patients. Though we oftener (in 50% of patients) observed intoxication syndrome in NTPM/COPD patients resulted in accelerated ESR (47.6±8 mm/h), and longer duration of the underlying disease (165±29 months). NTPM significantly increased the duration of BED (204±29 months) but did not influence the severity of the disease. NTPM deteriorated clinical features of pulmonary TB due to exacerbation of respiratory symptoms resulted in marked changes in the functional rates (FEV1, MEF 25-75). <b>Conclusion:</b> Mycobacteriosis caused by slowly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria was detected in long lasting chronic non-specific lung disease patients without worsening the clinical features. In pulmonary TB patients mycobacterial infections exacerbated clinical symptoms but did not influence the duration of the disease.