INTRAABDOMINAL TUBERCULOSIS IN ACQUIRED-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-SYNDROME - DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT

Tuberculosis (TB) in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunosuppress ed patients is characterized by extra-pulmonary disease in as many of 70% of them. If intestinal or lymph node involvement occurs, the diffe rential diagnosis between an acute abdomen and other non surgical cond itions may be a challenging problem, The authors analyzed eight double infected patients (TB and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome AIDS), w ho were admitted to the University Hospital (HUCFF) of the Federal Uni versity of Rio de Janeiro, This association should be considered when abdominal pain, anemia, fever, weight loss and abdominal lymph node en largement are present, Bacteriology of body fluids, abdominal ultrasou nd (US) and computed tomography scans (CT) combined with guided needle aspiration biopsies, barium examination, colonoscopy and laparoscopy, can not only elucidate the diagnosis but also be helpful in assessing an appropriate management, Thus a systematic evaluation often yields an etiology and a correct therapeutic indication reducing the high mor tality rate.