DIAGNOSIS OF INTESTINAL TUBERCULOSIS BY POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION ON ENDOSCOPIC BIOPSY SPECIMENS

It is often difficult to establish the diagnosis of intestinal tubercu losis because of close similarities with other conditions, in particul ar, Crohn's disease. In the present study, we used the polymerase chai n reaction (PCR) assay on endoscopic biopsy specimens obtained from a patient with chronic diarrhea. Positive hybridization was obtained wit h the Mycobacterium tuberculosis probe and the patient was treated wit h anti-tuberculous drugs with complete resolution of the endoscopic ab normalities. This study demonstrates that polymerase chain reaction as say can be used on endoscopic biopsy specimens to diagnose intestinal tuberculosis.