title: [Peritoneal tuberculosis: a 16-year review in a general hospital].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España. pilarmartinfortea@gmail.com
authors.forename: María Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Martín-Fortea
authors.forename: Miguel Angel
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Aibar
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Escalante
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Olivera
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Letona
authors.forename: María Asunción
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Vitoria
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Echezarreta
mesh_terms: 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