Diagnosis and treatment of spinal tuberculosis after liver transplantation.
BACKGROUND
Spinal tuberculosis is a common disease in orthopedic clinical practice; however, it is seldom reported after organ transplantation. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnosis and treatment of spinal tuberculosis after organ transplantation.


METHODS
Two cases were diagnosed as spinal tuberculosis after liver transplantation and were treated with socarboxazide, rifampicin, streptomycin and ethambutol for more than one year.


RESULTS
After treatment with anti-tuberculosis drugs for several months, the symptoms of both patients clearly improved. Back pain disappeared, and erythrocyte sedimentation and body temperature returned to normal.


CONCLUSIONS
We should highly suspect spinal tuberculosis if notalgia and night sweats are present after organ transplantation. Anti-tuberculosis therapy is an effective treatment for spinal tuberculosis after organ transplantation.
Gu
Peng-Cheng
PC
Department of Orthopedics, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China.
Wu
Rong-Huan
RH
Lin
Xiang-Jin
XJ
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy