Miliary tuberculosis: unusual cause of abdominal pain in pregnancy

We have described a case of miliary tuberculosis, with symptoms primarily due to hepatic involvement during pregnancy. Liver biopsy showed granulomatous hepatitis, and subsequent cultures of sputum, urine, and gastric aspirate were positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Although this patient was seronegative for HIV, an increased incidence of extrapulmonary and disseminated tuberculous infection has recently been noted in patients with HIV infection. Given the increasing incidence of HIV in the general population, we may therefore anticipate a corresponding rise in the incidence of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Since an increasing number of gravidas will be immunocompromised by HIV infection, renewal of knowledge regarding diagnosis of miliary tuberculosis in pregnancy is valuable.