The adult respiratory distress syndrome associated with miliary tuberculosis

Miliary tuberculosis is an unusual cause of acute, catastrophic pulmonary failure. In this report, we describe three patients with miliary tuberculosis who developed the adult respiratory distress syndrome. The diagnosis of tuberculosis was suspected early, appropriate therapy was initiated, and two patients survived. The experience with these cases serves to reemphasize the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for treatable precipitating disorders in patients with acute respiratory failure.