Gastrointestinal tuberculosis: 17 cases collected in 4 hospitals in the northeastern suburb of Paris.
Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is a rare form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis and its diagnosis can be difficult.


OBJECTIVE
To analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of gastrointestinal tuberculosis.


METHODS
Retrospective study from 17 cases collected in 4 hospitals in Seine Saint-Denis between 1987 and 2002.


RESULTS
Seventeen cases and 19 localizations were collected: small intestine (N = 7), ileocecum (N = 6), colon (N = 4) and gastroduodenum (N = 2). Two patients had two localizations. Mean age was 43.9 years. Subjects from immigrant populations (76.5%) were preferentially affected. Twenty-three percent of patients (13 tested) were infected by human immunodeficiency virus. Weight-loss and general weakness (88%), abdominal pain (88%), fever (59%), nausea/vomiting (53%) were the predominant symptoms. The delay in diagnosis was 82 days (range: 7-180) and time before specific treatment 31.6 days (range: 7-90). Histological evidence of caseating granuloma was found in six patients. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was detected in six. Digestive imaging was abnormal in 15 patients. Mesenteric lymph nodes were the most common associated site of tuberculosis (N = 8, 47%). Mean duration of treatment was 8.2 months (range: 6-12). Thirteen patients were cured, three died and one was lost to follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
Gastrointestinal tuberculosis is not an uncommon diagnosis in the north-eastern Parisian area, especially among immigrant populations and immunodeficient patients. The most frequent localizations are the small intestine and ileocecum. Diagnosis can be made by pathology and/or bacteriology on endoscopic and/or surgical biopsy samples.
Collado
Caroline
C
Service de Médecine Interne, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris XIII, Bondy, France.
Stirnemann
Jérôme
J
Ganne
Nathalie
N
Trinchet
Jean-Claude
JC
Cruaud
Philippe
P
Barrat
Christophe
C
Benichou
Joseph
J
Lhote
François
F
Malbec
Denis
D
Martin
Antoine
A
Prevot
Sophie
S
Fain
Olivier
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010297:Paris; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014385:Tuberculosis, Gastrointestinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000995:Antitubercular Agents