Tuberculous peritonitis in an endemic area.
BACKGROUND
Tuberculous peritonitis is a fatal disease if not diagnosed in time.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the clinical, laboratory, and diagnostic features of tuberculous peritonitis in Iranian patients.


METHODS
Included in the study were all cases of tuberculous peritonitis with a definite diagnosis confirmed by pathology in four referral University Hospitals in Tehran between 1989 and 1999.


METHODS
All clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings as well as invasive procedures were reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 50 patients (30 female, 20 male), mean age 33.5 years were studied. Main presenting symptoms included abdominal pain (84%), weight loss (72%) and fever (50%). In 24% of patients a positive tuberculin test was found. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate >50 mm/h was detected in 60% of patients and 4.4% had an Erythrocyte sedimentation rate >100 mm/h. Laparoscopy or laparotomy showed peritoneal seeding in 74% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Exudative ascites should give rise to clinical suspicion of tuberculous peritonitis in endemic areas or in immigrants from endemic areas. Laparoscopy is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic method.
Digestive Diseases Research Centre, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, North Kargar Ave., Tehran 14114, Iran.
R
R
Sotoudehmanesh
N
N
Shirazian
A A
AA
Asgari
R
R
Malekzadeh
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies