title: Endobronchial tuberculosis presenting as asthma.
abstract: Clinical deterioration with features suggestive of asthma was seen in three patients following two to six months of drug therapy of primary tuberculosis. There was a poor clinical response to administered bronchodilators. Bronchoscopy in all three revealed culture-negative mycobacterial caseating granulomas. Corticosteroid therapy resulted in good clinical response, with resolution of the asthmatic symptoms and improvement in the expiratory flow rates. In our opinion these patients are clinically compatible with a hypersensitivity response to mycobacteria following antituberculosis therapy and release of tuberculosis antigens. Corticosteroid therapy is appropriate in this form of tuberculous disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, W. Mackenzie Center, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: York
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Nobert
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Sproule
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D014375:Tuberculoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents