[Tuberculosis in hemodialysis patients in Tunisia].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Because of the immunity depression, patients with chronic renal failure undergoing haemodialysis are at increased risk for developing infections, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTb) in particular.

OBJECTIVE:

To evaluate, in a prospective longitudinal study over 36 months period, the frequency of Tb among these patients and underline the diagnostic difficulties.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Sixty dialysis patients were interested. The Tb assessment comprised: a questionnaire, a meticulous clinical examination, a chest X-ray, a tuberculin skin testing, as well as MT bacilli screening in biological fluids.

RESULTS:

Tb was seen in six among dialysis patients(10%), this rate represents 15 times the general population tuberculosis incidence in our country (23/100,000). Tb has occurred early compared to the beginning of the haemodialysis. The Tb localizations were: 4 cases of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (3 peritoneal and one ganglionic) and only 2 cases of pleuro-pulmonary localization. The positive diagnosis represents a real problem: no bacteriological confirmation in all patients and only in one, the histological diagnosis was obtained.

CONCLUSION:

There was a high rate of tuberculosis in our study. The prognosis appears to be closely related to therapeutic precocity, thus specific chemotherapy started sometimes without diagnostic confirmation.

• Authors: E Hassine, K Marniche, J Hamida, K Hassine, A Bouaziz, M A Ben Mustapha, A Chabbou, M Dhahri
• Journal: Nephrologie (Nephrologie) Vol. 23 Issue 3 Pg. 135-40 ( 2002) ISSN: 0250-4960 [Print] Switzerland
• Vernacular Title: Tuberculose des patients hémodialysés en Tunisie.
• PMID: 12087811 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Humans
• Incidence
• Prognosis
• Renal Dialysis (adverse effects, statistics & numerical data)
• Tuberculosis (epidemiology, etiology)
• Tunisia (epidemiology)