Gastrointestinal tuberculosis as a cause of massive bleeding

Although minor bleeding is fairly common among cases of gastrointestinal tuberculosis, massive hemorrhage necessitating blood transfusion is rare.

A 72-year-old woman presented to the hospital with hematochezia. Colonoscopy revealed multiple ulcers, including round ulcers, throughout the large intestine. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed multiple duodenal ulcers. Hemostasis was performed on the bleeding point, but other untreated ulcers exhibited recurrent bleeding. Fecal culture results established the diagnosis of gastrointestinal tuberculosis. The patient was put on a standard antituberculosis regimen and remains in remission.

Gastrointestinal tuberculosis should be considered as one of the causes for massive and intractable gastrointestinal bleeding.