Association between paracoccidioidomycosis and tuberculosis: reality and misdiagnosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of the real association between paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) and tuberculosis (TB) as well as the rate of previous TB misdiagnosis in individuals with PCM among the patients treated in the Pulmonology Division of the State University of Campinas Hospital das Clínicas, Campinas, Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective study of 227 adult patients with PCM (chronic form) treated between 1980 and 2005. RESULTS: Of the 227 patients studied, 36 (15.8%) had been previously treated for TB. However, only 18 (7.9%) presented positive sputum smear microscopy results. The remaining 18 (7.9%) neither presented positive sputum smear microscopy nor showed improvement after receiving specific anti-TB treatment. CONCLUSION: Although the existence of an association between PCM and TB has been documented in the literature, misdiagnosis is common due to the superimposition of and the similarity between their clinical and radiographic presentations, thereby warranting the need for bacteriological diagnosis before initiating specific treatment.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a freqüência da real associação entre paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) e tuberculose (TB) e a freqüência do diagnóstico errôneo prévio de TB em doentes com PCM entre os pacientes atendidos na Disciplina de Pneumologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas (SP). MÉTODOS: Estudo retrospectivo de 227 pacientes adultos com diagnóstico confirmado de PCM (forma crônica) entre 1980 e 2005. RESULTADOS: Dos 227 casos, 36 (15,8%) haviam sido tratados anteriormente para TB. Porém, apenas 18 (7,9%) apresentaram baciloscopia positiva. Os outros 18 (7,9%) nunca tiveram o diagnóstico confirmado pela baciloscopia nem responderam ao tratamento específico para TB. CONCLUSÃO: Apesar de a associação entre PCM e TB existir e estar documentada na literatura, o erro diagnóstico é bastante comum, haja vista a sobreposição e similaridade das apresentações clínicas e radiológicas dessas duas doenças, havendo, portanto, a necessidade do diagnóstico bacteriológico antes de se iniciar o tratamento específico.29530

Association Between Paracoccidioidomycosis And Tuberculosis: Reality And Misdiagnosis.

To evaluate the frequency of the real association between paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) and tuberculosis (TB) as well as the rate of previous TB misdiagnosis in individuals with PCM among the patients treated in the Pulmonology Division of the State University of Campinas Hospital das Clínicas, Campinas, Brazil. A retrospective study of 227 adult patients with PCM (chronic form) treated between 1980 and 2005. Of the 227 patients studied, 36 (15.8%) had been previously treated for TB. However, only 18 (7.9%) presented positive sputum smear microscopy results. The remaining 18 (7.9%) neither presented positive sputum smear microscopy nor showed improvement after receiving specific anti-TB treatment. Although the existence of an association between PCM and TB has been documented in the literature, misdiagnosis is common due to the superimposition of and the similarity between their clinical and radiographic presentations, thereby warranting the need for bacteriological diagnosis before initiating specific treatment.33295-30

Diagnosis of Paracoccidioidomycosis by Detection of Antigen and Antibody in Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluids

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic infection caused by the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and is believed to be the leading cause of fungal pulmonary infection. In this study, we used an inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to diagnose pulmonary PCM based on the detection of 43-kDa and 70-kDa molecules in bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. The results were compared with results obtained by classical methods for antibody detection