Tuberculous peritonitis in chronic liver disease: Clinical features and response to treatment

To find out the clinical presentation, laboratory results, and treatment response of tuberculous peritonitis in patients with chronic liver disease, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients with tuberculous peritonitis diagnosed by laparoscopy at King Khalid University Hospital over a period of seven years. A total of 17 patients (Group 1, consisting of 11 males and six females with a mean age of 539 +/- 17.5 years) had both chronic liver disease and tuberculous peritonitis, while 27 patients (Group 2, consisting of 17 males and 10 females with a mean age of 39.5 +/- 16.3 years) had only tuberculous peritonitis. Tuberculous peritonitis in chronic liver disease had similar clinical and laboratory presentation compared to patients with tuberculous peritonitis but without liver disease. However, Group I were significantly older, had lower ascitic protein content and higher mortality (P values of 0.004, 0.002, and 0.02, respectively). Both groups responded favorably to specific therapy. The overall mortality was recorded as 5.6%. In conclusion, the clinical presentation of tuberculous peritonitis in patients with chronic liver disease is similar to that of patients without liver disease except for ascitic protein, which is lower in the former group of patients. The prognosis is good with specific therapy.