Tuberculous peritonitis. Study of 100 cases
Bitelman, B.; Silva, M.de.O.; Rafih, D.B.; Faria, R.M.; Bettarello, A.; Polak, M.
Revista do Hospital das Clinicas 36(6): 244-247
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-8781 PMID: 7345530 Document Number: 171617
There were 100 patients with tuberculous peritonitis (67 females and 33 males) studied. Their age varied between 4-73 yr. The most important clinical manifestations were ascites (verified in 95) and fever. In most cases, the ascitic fluid was sero-fibrinous; less frequently, it was serous, hemorrhagic or chylous. In comparison with the effusions due to portal hypertension, the determination of total proteins, cholesterol, mucoprotein and lactic dehydrogenase activity in ascitic fluid showed much higher values; those of glucose were lower. In 29 patients, the cultivation of tubercle bacilli from ascitic fluid was attempted. The cultures were carried out in Dubos' liquid medium; positive results were obtained in 21. In nearly all patients the determination of proteins in the serum showed high globulin and low albumin values. In all patients the diagnosis was confirmed by peritoneal biopsy; in 10, the tubercle bacilli were found in peritoneal tissue. Four patients died from miliary tuberculosis and 1 from complications of intestinal perforation. The remaining cases were successfully treated with antituberculosis drugs.