[Tuberculosis as risk factor for venous thrombosis]

Over a 2-year period, 3 patients with deep venous thrombosis associated to advanced pulmonary tuberculosis have been observed. One of them died suddenly, probably due to thromboembolic complications. In the other two cases, a triggering factor of venous thrombosis, probably related to tuberculosis, was detected and their evolution was satisfactory. The high frequency of antiphospholipid antibodies detected in the tuberculosis and the potential relationship between these and deficit of protein S is mentioned. Advanced pulmonary tuberculosis is described as a risk factor for the development of venous thrombosis in patients with negative serology for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 and 2. We recommend not to use deep venous catheters and we stress the potential value of heparin prophylactic therapy in order to prevent venous thrombosis and its complications.