THE DIFFICULTY OF THE DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS IN HEMODIALYZED PATIENTS

We report two cases of tuberculosis in patients undergoing maintenance dialysis. In both cases Mycobacterium tuberculosis was not isolated i n spite of mutiple localizations and diagnosis was made with delay. Se vere hypocalcemia was the main symptom in one patient, who had pulmona ry, genito-urinary and spinal tuberculosis. The other patient had tube rculous lymphadenitis. The two patients survived their disease on anti tuberculous therapy. From the literature the authors give the actuaria l data of tuberculosis occurring in patients undergoing hemodialysis.