Primary tuberculosis in the gluteal muscle of a patient with chronic renalfailure - A rare presentation

Patients suffering from chronic renal failure (CRF) are at increased risk f or contracting tuberculosis (TB) due to their impaired immunity. In this pa tient group, extrapulmonary involvement is more common than the pulmonary f orm of TB, and symptoms tend to be milder and less distinctive than those s een in the general population. Pyomyositis secondary to TB is relatively ra re. We report a case of TB pyomyositis in the setting of CRF. The nonspecif ic symptoms that are typical of CRF patients with TB make it particularly d ifficult to establish the diagnosis in this patient group. In order to avoi d diagnostic delays, which may increase the risk of complications and morta lity, TB should be kept in mind in any case of ongoing fever and infection that does not respond to seemingly appropriate therapy. In addition, TB sho uld always be suspected in endemic areas, even in the absence of osseous in volvement. Copyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.