Hypercalcaemia: atypical presentation of miliary tuberculosis

We report an unusual case of miliary tuberculosis in a 77-year-old Filipino man with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, nephrolithiasis status-post left nephrectomy, presenting with 1 month of fever, generalised weakness and weight loss. Laboratory data were significant for anaemia, hypercalcaemia and acute kidney injury. Chest radiograph showed ground glass opacities and interstitial infiltrates. Extensive workup was performed to evaluate fever and hypercalcaemia. Malignancy, hormonal and septic workup were all unremarkable. Tuberculin skin test was negative. Sputum, pleural fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage and cerebrospinal fluid were acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear negative. Remarkably, urine AFB smear was positive. Caseating granulomas were seen on transbronchial biopsy. Antituberculosis therapy was initiated which lead to defervescence and initial clinical improvement. However, hospital course became complicated by small bowel obstruction and respiratory failure. He subsequently developed pulseless electrical activity and expired. An autopsy confirmed the presence of tuberculosis in multiple organs including his remaining kidney.