Intestinal tuberculosis

Purpose of reviewIntestinal tuberculosis (TB) is increasing due partly to the HIV pandemic. Its clinical presentation mimics inflammatory conditions such as Crohn's disease and malignancies, which are becoming more prevalent, so the diagnosis is problematic.Recent findingsGreater awareness of intestinal TB is needed, both in countries where TB is endemic and developed countries with immigrant populations. Some strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis are associated with more extrapulmonary disease and greater dissemination, thereby exacerbating the rise in HIV-associated extrathoracic TB. Recent retrospective and prospective studies are leading to the development of diagnostic algorithms. A wide range of imaging techniques is available for sampling and diagnosis. New biochemical, immunological and molecular diagnostic methods are being developed but must be standardized and validated. Developments in drug delivery will facilitate oral therapy even in patients suffering from malabsorption.SummaryThere is an increasing consensus on the risk factors and clinical presentations of intestinal TB. Imaging techniques, coupled with fine needle biopsies, are useful aids to diagnosis, but most important is a greater awareness of the condition by clinicians

Peritoneal tuberculosis and granulomatous hepatitis secondary to treatment of bladder cancer with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin

Intravesical administration of Bacillus Calmette-Guérin is used as a treatment method in superficial bladder cancer. While it is generally well tolerated, serious side effects may develop. Granulomatous hepatitis cases have been previously reported; however, only one case with tuberculous peritonitis exists in the current literature. We hereby present two cases, one of which is the second tubercular peritonitis case following Bacillus Calmette-Guérin treatment to be reported, and the other a case with granulomatous hepatitis. Complete cure was achieved in both cases with specific therapy. In the patient who developed peritonitis, intravesical Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy was recommenced after antituberculosis treatment, and completed without further complications

Tuberculous Peritonitis Presenting Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis

Tuberculosis (TB), one of the oldest diseases known to affect humans, is a major cause of death worldwide. TB is still a major problem in Indonesia. This disease, which is caused by bacteria of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, usually affects the lungs, although other organs are involved in up to one- third of cases. Approximately 95% cases of TB and 98% death because of TB occur in developing country. Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is uncommon, making up 3.5% of extrapulmonary cases in the United States. This kind of TB may involve gastrointestinal tract, peritoneal, lymph nodes, or solid intraabdominal organs (viscera). A 17 years old male admitted to hospital with TB peritonitis presenting unusual clinical manifestation. At the first admission patients was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis based on elevation of amylase and lipase level up to 285 and 2,046 U/L and after finishing further examination, patients suffered from tuberculous peritonitis which based on literature manifested some gastrointestinal disorders. Diagnostic confirmation was accomplished by conducting serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) of < 1.1 g/dL, peritoneal thickening and the presence of ascites with fine mobile septations on ultrasound, positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) TB from ascitic fluid. Patients received conventional antitubercular therapy for 12 months of rifampicin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. The addition of corticosteroids for the first two or three months of treatment may reduce the incidence of late complications arising from adhesive disease, such as small bowel obstruction

Active Tuberculous Infection among Adult Sudanese Patients on Long Term Peritoneal Dialysis

Introduction: The prevalence of tuberculosis in Sudan is 209 cases per 100,000 populations. There are no reports available regarding the prevalence of tuberculosis among the end-stage kidney disease and dialysis populations.Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all adults who were on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in the Sudan Peritoneal Dialysis Program, during the period from June 2005 to December 2011. Those diagnosed ashaving active tuberculous infections were retrospectively studied regarding their demography, clinical presentation and outcomes.Results: Out of 350 patients in our program, 19 were diagnosed as having active tuberculosis (5.4%). All patients were diagnosed during their first year on peritoneal dialysis, 74% were males; the mean age was37 ± 11 years, extrapulmonary tuberculosis was seen in 16/19 (84%) patients and it was abdominal in nine of the 16 (47%) patients. In addition to high clinical suspicion, the diagnosis of active tuberculosis was supported by tissue biopsy findings in 16%, positive polymerase chain reaction in 26%, exudative ascites with suggestive radiological features in 21%, strongly positive tuberculin test in 21% and a favourable response to empirical antituberculous therapy in 26% of patients. HIV test wasnegative in all 19 patients and only one patient tested positive for hepatitis B viral infection. Antituberculous drugs side effects were seen in 68% of patients. Forty seven percent of patients showed complete recovery and continued on peritoneal dialysis. Our case fatality was 32%.Conclusion: Abdominal tuberculosis is common among PD patients and its diagnosis should always be considered in suspected patients

Modern Tools for Diagnosis in Tuberculous Ascites

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), affecting about 1/3rd of the world population and being responsible for lot of deaths worldwide, despite the progress achieved in the diagnosis and treatment fields. TB can affect the peritoneum, the TB ascites being a concern for physicians, especially when dealing with immunocompromised patients. The clinical presentation of TB ascites is challenging, due to nonspecific symptoms that make confusion with other diseases and the late results of cultures from ascites. The late diagnosis leads to a delayed treatment and high mortality. This manuscript describes recent tools used for early diagnosis in TB ascites. Molecular methods based on mycobacterial nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detecting minimal amounts of bacterial DNA, or interferongamma release assays (IGRA) and biochemical methods such as the serum-ascites albumin gradient (SAAG) 40 UI/ml were recently considered more accurate diagnostic procedures. These methods allow a rapid and accurate differential diagnosis of ascites fluid, making possible the early treatment with appropriate drugs

Primary abdominal tuberculosis presenting as peritonitis in a young child–managed surgically

AbstractAbdominal tuberculosis (TB) is the sixth commonest extra-pulmonary TB form after lymphatic, genitourinary, bone and joint, miliary and meningeal tuberculosis. We are presenting a rare case in a young female of age 7 year diagnosed as peritonitis and intestinal obstruction. Operative findings revealed dense fibrosis in interloops and perforation of the small bowel. She was put on antitubercular treatment for one year. Patient was discharged in satisfactory condition and is in follow up for 2 months