[Ulcerated lesion of the cecum as a form of presentation of gastrointestinal tuberculosis]. / Lesão ulcerada do cego como forma de apresentação de tuberculose digestiva.

In recent years there has been an increase in the number of cases of intestinal tuberculosis mainly due to the HIV epidemic. Its clinical manifestations and endoscopic findings are nonspecific, making diagnosis difficult, requiring high degree of suspicion. The authors present the case of a man, 55 years old, immunocompetent, who goes to the doctor due to constitutional symptoms after two months of evolution. Given the family history of colon cancer, colonoscopy is sought, showing an ulcerated lesion at the blind. Histology showed non-caseating granulomas and for AFB was negative. The following study carried out with TC chest, sputum and bronchoscopy, has lead to the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis with achievement of the digestive tract. The purpose of this case history is to emphasize the importance of differential diagnosis with other pathologies with similar clinical symptoms and endoscopic changes, and the role of bronchoscopy in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with negative smear.

Post liver transplant tuberculosis.

We report on a patient diagnosed with disseminated (hepatic and pulmonary) tuberculosis in the context of immunosuppression following liver transplant. During the administration of anti-tuberculosis drugs an abrupt elevation of liver enzymes was detected leading us to suspect drug toxicity rather than graft rejection. Nevertheless, careful surveillance and adjustment of serum levels of immunosuppressant drugs permitted continuance of tuberculosis treatment with no further side effects.

Tuberculosis and Venous Thromboembolism: a case series.

INTRODUCTION: Tuberculosis remains an infectious disease with a high prevalence worldwide and represents a major public health issue. Although venous thromboembolism is a rare complication of this disease, it may be a potentially life-threatening event. CASE SERIES PRESENTATION: We report two cases of severe pulmonary tuberculosis associated with venous thromboembolism. A 38 year-old caucasian male that had a thromboembolic event as an unsual presentation form of tuberculosis and a 51 year-old caucasian male that developed deep venous thrombosis later in the course of the disease. CONCLUSION: An association between inflamation induced by tuberculosis and a hypercoagulable state has been described. Therefore, the occurence of deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolic episods, should be considered in patients with tuberculosis particulary during the first weeks of treatment. The physician's awarness of these phenomena is important to an early diagnostic suspicion and prompt treatment in order to prevent fatal outcomes.