title: [Peritoneal tuberculosis--report of 43 cases].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Peritoneal tuberculosis represents 0, 1 to 4% of all forms of tuberculosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study is to describe clinical, therapeutic characteristics and the outcome of peritoneal tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study of all cases of peritoneal tuberculosis diagnosed in gastroenterology B department - Rabta Hospital during a 12 years period (1996 to 2007).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty three cases of peritoneal tuberculosis were included: 15 male and 28 female with mean age of 38years (extremes: 16 to 85years). Five patients were cirrhotic. Clinical manifestations were dominated by ascitis (83%). Ascitic fluid were exsudative in 97% of cases and lymphocytic in all cases. The diagnostic was based on coelioscopy with peritoneal biopsy in 26 cases demonstrating caseating granulomatous lesions in 64% of cases. Extra peritoneal tuberculosis was noted in 60, 4% dominated by pleuro-pulmonary localisations. Patients were given antituberculous therapy for a mean duration of 9, 8 months and the outcome was favourable in 93%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Peritoneal tuberculosis is still a medical problem in Tunisia. It is more common in young female. Diagnosis is based on the results of peritoneal biopsies during celioscopy. The outcome is good in most cases after antituberculous treatment.
authors.affiliation: Service de Gastroentérologie B- Hôpital la Rabta, Tunis, Tunisie.
authors.forename: N Bel
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Kahla
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Naija
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Maamouri
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ouerghi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chouaib
authors.forename: F B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Hariz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chaabouni
authors.forename: Nabil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ben Mami
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001201:Ascites / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014395:Peritonitis, Tuberculous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents