Extrapulmonary tuberculosis in chronic hemodialysis patients
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Published on: February 16, 2020
Feng-Rong Chuang1, Chih-Hsiung Lee, I-Kuan Wang
1Division of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Chiayi, Taiwan.
Background:
The incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis is higher in dialysis than general population. The aim of the study was to characterize clinical picture in dialysis patients, who developed extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Methods:
We retrospectively investigated the hemodialysis patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis. 2208 hemodialysis patients were reviewed for extrapulmonary tuberculosis from October 1986 to January 2001.
Results:
Seventeen patients (10 male, 7 female) were enrolled. The mean age was 57.4 +/- 12.4 years. The sites for extrapulmonary tuberculosis were peritoneum (35.3%, 6/17), cervical lymph node (17.6%. 3/17), bone marrow (5.9%, 1/17), spine (5.9%, 1/17), knee (5.9%, 1/17), brain (5.9%, 1/17), pericardium (5.9%, 1/17), cutaneous tissue (5.9%, 1/17) and genitourinary system (5.9%, 1/17). Fourteen of 15 tissue-biopsy specimens from suspicious sites revealed granulomatous inflammation. There were low yield in mycobacteria culture (11.1%, 1/9) and PCR (33.3%, 2/6). Three patients died during the treatment of the disease.
Conclusion:
Extrapulmonary tuberculosis constitutes a major part of tuberculosis in dialysis patients. Tissue biopsy with invasive procedures, such as laparoscopy or laparotomy, may be necessary if clinical presentations are suspicious.
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