The Hemostatic Changes in Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Pulmonology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Severe pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is occasionally complicated by deep venous thrombosis (DVT).
• Hemostatic disturbances are potential predisposing factors for venous thrombosis in PTB patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the role of hemostatic disturbances in PTB patients.
• To analyze coagulation and platelet function in PTB patients before and during treatment.

Main Methods:

• Coagulation and platelet function tests were performed on 40 severe PTB patients and 40 healthy controls.
• Tests were conducted before therapy and on day 30 of treatment, comparing results to controls.

Main Results:

• Active PTB patients exhibited anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, elevated fibrinogen, factor VIII, and PAI-1, with depressed antithrombin III (ATIII) and protein C (PC) levels.
• Treatment improved anemia, leukocytosis, and thrombocytosis. Fibrinogen and factor VIII normalized, while PC and ATIII levels increased.
• Platelet aggregation studies showed increased platelet activation; DVT was not detected during follow-up.

Conclusions:

• Decreased ATIII and PC levels, elevated fibrinogen, and increased platelet aggregation contribute to a hypercoagulable state in PTB.
• This hypercoagulable state improves with effective PTB treatment.