Disseminated tuberculosis: A neglected entity in immunocompromised hemodialysis patients

• Published in: Hemodialysis international Vol. 19; no. 3; pp. E8 - E11
• Main Authors: Gavriilaki, Eleni, Sabanis, Nikos, Paschou, Eleni, Kalaitzoglou, Asterios, Michalaki, Katerina, Zarampoukas, Thomas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Canada 01-07-2015
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Aged; disseminated; end‐stage renal disease; genitourinary; hemodialysis; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Kidney Failure, Chronic - complications; Male; Renal Dialysis - adverse effects; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Miliary - etiology; disseminated; hemodialysis; genitourinary; Tuberculosis; end-stage renal disease
• ISSN: 1492-7535; 1542-4758
• DOI: 10.1111/hdi.12228

End‐stage renal disease is considered a factor predisposing to increased risk of tuberculosis with frequent extrapulmonary localization. Although extrapulmonary tuberculosis has been observed for decades, disseminated tuberculosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts, remains rather neglected. We report an unusual case of an immunocompromised patient with a late diagnosis and delayed treatment of genitourinary tuberculosis that subsequently led to the diagnosis of vertebral and miliary tuberculosis (disseminating tuberculosis). Therefore, increased awareness is warranted from physicians dealing with hemodialysis patients in order to avoid delays in diagnosis and treatment initiation.