[Peritoneal tuberculosis: a 16-year review in a general hospital].
BACKGROUND
Peritoneal tuberculosis (PT) is a form of abdominal tuberculosis that accounts for 1%-3% of all cases of tuberculous disease and often manifests with non-specific symptoms.


METHODS
Cases of PT diagnosed over a period of 16 years are reviewed and the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic, and outcome data are analyzed.


RESULTS
Among 462 patients with extrapulmonary tuberculosis, PT was documented in 13 patients (2.8%), only one whom was infected by human immunodeficiency virus. In most patients, the diagnosis was established on histological findings. In 5 cases, ascitic fluid culture was positive, and the diagnosis was established by this method alone in 3 of them. A multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing strain was isolated in one patient. The remaining strains isolated were sensitive to classic antituberculosis drugs. Ten patients were treated with 3 antituberculosis agents and 2 were treated with 4 drugs. Eight patients progressed favorably and 5 died due to complications of their underlying medical conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
Peritoneal tuberculosis can develop without evidence of concomitant tuberculous disease. Histology is usually needed to confirm the diagnosis, and the prognosis is good with prompt treatment.
Martín-Fortea
María Pilar
MP
Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España. pilarmartinfortea@gmail.com
Aibar
Miguel Angel
MA
de Escalante
Begoña
B
Olivera
Susana
S
Letona
Santiago
S
Vitoria
María Asunción
MA
Echezarreta
Carmen
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult