Aspartate Aminotransferase/Platelet Ratio Index Upon Admission Predicts 24-Week Mortality in Patients with HIV-Associated Talaromyces Marneffei.

Background. A high aspartate aminotransferase/platelet ratio index (APRI) predicts mortality in patients with severe infection. This study aims to assess the potential of APRI as a predictor for mortality in patients with HIV-associated Talaromyces marneffei (HTM).Methods. Associations between APRI and CD4 count, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein (CRP) level, procalcitonin (PCT) level, and cytokines were assessed in 119 patients. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to predict APRI on 24-week mortality.Results. APRI was positively associated with CRP (r = 0.190, P = .039), PCT (r = 0.220, P = .018), interleukin 6 (r = 0.723, P < .001), interleukin 10 (r = 0.416, P = .006), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (r = 0.575, P < .001) and negatively associated with CD4 count (r = -0.234, P = .011). In total, 20.2% (24/119) of patients died within the 24-week follow-up. The 24-week survival rate was 88.0% for patients with APRI <5.6% and 61.1% for those with APRI >= 5.6 (log-rank P < .001). After adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, and CD4 count, as well as serum levels of hemoglobin, APRI >= 5.6 (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI]; 3.0 [1.2-7.1], P = .015), PCT >= 1.7 ng/mL (3.7 [1.5-9.6], P = .006), and non-amphotericin B deoxycholate treatment (2.8 [1.2-6.6], P = .018) were independent risk factors for 24-week mortality.Conclusions. For patients with HTM, APRI is associated with severity and is an independent risk factor for 24-week mortality.