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Updated: May 29, 2026
08:10
Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis with the Xpert MTB/RIF Test
Published on: April 9, 2012
[Pulmonary thromboembolism with pulmonary tuberculosis].
Yoshitoshi Komazaki1, Yumi Sakakibara, Hiroyuki Sakashita
1Department of Integrated Pulmology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan. ykomazaki.pulm@tmd.ac.jp
Kekkaku : [Tuberculosis]
|September 20, 2011
Summary
Pulmonary tuberculosis patients can develop blood clots like pulmonary thrombotic embolism (PTE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT). Elevated D-dimer levels can aid in early diagnosis, even without typical symptoms like shortness of breath.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Hematology
Context:
- Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health concern.
- Thromboembolic events, including pulmonary thrombotic embolism (PTE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT), are serious complications.
- The co-occurrence of TB and thromboembolism requires careful diagnostic consideration.
Purpose:
- To report on the incidence of PTE and/or DVT in patients hospitalized with pulmonary tuberculosis.
- To present three clinical cases illustrating the presentation and diagnosis of thromboembolism in TB patients.
- To evaluate the utility of D-dimer testing in the early detection of thromboembolism in this patient population.
Summary:
- Three cases of PTE and/or DVT were identified among 77 pulmonary TB patients (3.9% incidence).
- Clinical presentations varied, with elevated D-dimer levels observed in all affected patients.
- Diagnostic tools included enhanced chest CT and lower limb ultrasonography; IVC filters were used in two cases.
- Importantly, symptoms like dyspnea and hypoxemia were absent in some cases, highlighting the need for sensitive diagnostic markers.
Impact:
- This study suggests that D-dimer testing may be a valuable tool for the early diagnosis of thromboembolism in pulmonary TB patients, even in the absence of overt clinical signs.
- Early detection and management of thromboembolic events can potentially improve outcomes for patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.
- Highlights the importance of considering thromboembolism as a differential diagnosis in TB patients presenting with non-specific symptoms or risk factors.
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