Introduction: Peritoneal tuberculosis (PT) is a form of abdominal tuberculosis that accounts for 1%-3% of all cases of tuberculous disease and often manifests with non-specific symptoms.
Methods: Cases of PT diagnosed over a period of 16 years are reviewed and the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and outcome data are analyzed.
Results: Among 462 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, PT was documented in 13 patients (2.8%), only one whom was infected by human immunodeficiency virus. In most patients, the diagnosis was established on histological findings. In 5 cases, ascitic fluid culture was positive, and the diagnosis was established by this method alone in 3 of them. A multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing strain was isolated in one patient. The remaining strains isolated were sensitive to classic antituberculosis drugs. Ten patients were treated with 3 antituberculosis agents and 2 were treated with 4 drugs. Eight patients progressed favorably and 5 died due to complications of their underlying medical conditions.
Conclusion: Peritoneal tuberculosis can develop without evidence of concomitant tuberculous disease. Histology is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis, and the prognosis is good with prompt treatment.
Copyright 2008 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.