title: [Pathomorphism of tuberculous pleurisy in elderly and senile individuals].
abstract: The pathomorphism of tuberculous exudative pleurisy in elderly and senile individuals has been investigated in the past 30 years. Comparison of clinical, X-ray, laboratory, morphological, and immunological data in patients of the first (1978-1987) and second (1998-2007) periods has revealed the signs characteristic of the negative pathomorphism of the disease: progressive latency of tuberculous pleurisy and a lower Mantoux reaction, a lower detection rate for epithelioid giant-cell granulomas in the patients' biopsy specimens, a higher rate of pleural tuberculous inflammation, an increased frequency of comorbidity, a higher drug resistance rate in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and decreased therapeutic efficiency. In this connection, elderly and senile persons with pleural effusion should be examined in a tuberculosis dispensary, with the bacteriological and morphological verification of the diagnosis being made. Their treatment should comprise the currently available antituberculous and pathogenetic agents.
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Stogova
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Tiukhtin
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Lushnikova
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012426:Russia / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014396:Tuberculosis, Pleural / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology