Compared with the therapy completion group, the drug withdrawal group had a significantly higher APACHE-II score (within 24 h after admission to the ICU) and CD4% (i.e. percentage of lymphocytes that are CD4-positive), a significantly lower hemoglobin level, significantly higher frequencies of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic renal failure as comorbidities, and a significantly lower rate of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (all P < 0.05; Table 1). Here, CD4 is linked to extrapulmonary tuberculosis.