A prospective study of the clinical profile of hemoptysis and its correlation with radiological and microbiological findings.

Background: The etiological pattern of hemoptysis has evolved, with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) becoming less prevalent as a cause. There is a paucity of literature regarding the spectrum of diseases that present as hemoptysis and the data related to detailed clinical profile are lacking. Hence, this study is taken up to determine the clinical profile of hemoptysis and its correlation with radiological and microbiological findings. Methods: This was a 3-year observational prospective study of a total of 50 patients who presented with active hemoptysis. Data were recorded from these patients for assessing the clinical characteristics, radiological, and microbiological correlation. Results: The most common etiologies of hemoptysis identified in this study were PTB in 60% of the patients, aspergilloma in 14%, followed by bronchiectasis in 8%, pneumonia in 8%, carcinoma lung in 4%, and lung abscess in 1 (2%). Mild hemoptysis was present in 8% of patients, whereas 42% had moderate hemoptysis, 18% of patients had severe, and 32% had massive hemoptysis. Sixty percent of patients had recurrent hemoptysis, and the majority of the patients, i.e., 68% tested negative on sputum smear examination for acid-fast bacillus. In 60% of patients, no growth was obtained in the sputum cultures. The most common organisms isolated from sputum cultures of the rest of the patients were Pseudomonas in 14%, Klebsiella in 10%, Escherichia coli in 4%, Staphylococci in 4%, and Streptococcus pneumoniae in 4% of the cases. The majority of the patients were having consolidation and cavitary disease. A highly significant correlation was noted between the radiological findings of consolidation, mycetoma, cystic shadows, lung mass, and lung abscess and the etiology of hemoptysis (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Hemoptysis of any volume implies a life-threatening process, which mandates immediate evaluation and treatment. It is evident that the etiological spectrum of hemoptysis is continuously changing, and more sophisticated investigations, better imaging techniques, bronchoscopic tools, availability of newer techniques in the developing world, and changing patterns of diseases, all contribute to these changes. Identification of the etiology, and localization of the bleeding site, is essential for the efficient management of hemoptysis.

Colonic tuberculosis masquerading as crohn's disease.

Intestinal tuberculosis (TB) is a diagnostic challenge and can closely mimic Crohn's disease (CD) and colon cancer. These disease entities very closely resemble each other in symptomatology, imaging, appearance, and pathology. We present a case of colonic TB where the initial diagnostic workup was suggestive of CD. However, the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in biopsy specimens confirmed the diagnosis.

Comparative study of effect of Withania somnifera as an adjuvant to DOTS in patients of newly diagnosed sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera Linn.) a rejuvenative herb has long been used as an immunomodulator in Indian subcontinent. As immunity plays an important role in pathogenesis and treatment of tuberculosis (TB), so role of W. somnifera as an adjuvant has been studied on selected parameter. METHOD: A randomized, double-blind placebo-control study was conducted in two groups of 60 newly diagnosed sputum smear positive pulmonary TB patients on Directly Observed Treatment - short course (DOTS) regime. W. somnifera root extract or placebo capsules were given as add-on therapy for duration of 12 weeks. Effects on sputum conversion, Hemoglobin (Hb), body weight, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), RBC counts, WBC counts, CD4 and CD8 counts, Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase (SGOT), Serum Glutamic-Pyruvic Transaminase (SGPT), serum uric acid and HRQL (Health Related Quality of Life) Index scores were studied. RESULTS: At the end of 8 weeks, sputum conversion was seen in 86.6% patients in study group and 76.6% in placebo group. At the end of 12 weeks a highly significant increase was seen in both CD4 and CD8 counts in study group. A raised SGOT and SGPT levels (>35IU/L) were observed in 16.6% and 33.3% patients in study group; 43.33% and 53.33% in the placebo group of patients. Elevated serum uric acid levels (>6mg/dl) were observed in 20% and 33.33% in study and placebo group respectively. Average gain in HRQL score was better in patients of study group. CONCLUSION: Use of W. somnifera as an adjuvant in conjunction with anti-TB drugs used as DOTS showed a favorable effect on symptoms and immunological parameters in patients with pulmonary TB.

Profile of adverse drug reactions in drug resistant tuberculosis from Punjab.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to elucidate the profile of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with second-line anti-tubercular treatment for drug-resistant tuberculosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: ADR profile of diagnosed drug-resistant tuberculosis cases on supervised second-line anti-tubercular drug regimen under Programmatic Management of Drug-resistant Tuberculosis under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, were studied over two years' period. Adverse reactions were categorised into mild, moderate and severe types with subsequent systematic data-analysis. RESULTS: Out of total 207 patients in the study, 81.16% reported with adverse drug reactions. Out of total 195 adverse events, 63.58%, 18.46% and 17.94% were of mild, moderate and severe types respectively. Gastrointestinal events, hepatitis, hearing impairment, arthralgia, psychosis, hypothyroidism, visual disturbances, giddiness, peripheral neuropathy, skin reactions, swelling or pain at injection site, anorexia and sleep disturbances were important amongst these. High proportion of drug and/or alcohol abuse was an important observation. The offending drug(s) had to be terminated in 12.08% of the patients. CONCLUSION: Early detection, management and pharmaco-vigilance reporting of ADRs remain key factors in the management of drug-resistant tuberculosis with remarkable relevance of the need for early diagnosis and treatment of 'drug-sensitive tuberculosis', to prevent emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Manifestations of tuberculosis in elderly versus young hospitalised patients in Amritsar, India.

SETTING: Published literature on the clinical characteristics of tuberculosis (TB) among elderly patients in India is scarce, as the problem of geriatric TB has not received the attention it deserves. OBJECTIVES: To compare the manifestations of TB among elderly and young patients. DESIGN: Medical records of elderly and young TB patients were extracted and compared. RESULTS: Elderly patients had less frequent respiratory and constitutional symptoms, but a higher prevalence of comorbidities. The median duration of symptoms was also longer in the elderly. Both groups were similar on physical examination, except that the elderly had a higher frequency of development of jaundice following anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy. Human immunodeficiency virus positivity was only present among the younger group. Both groups had significant proportions of alcoholics and drug abusers, but lesser percentage of smokers. Total admission analysis showed a male preponderance. CONCLUSION: The presentation of TB in elderly patients differs from that of younger patients in symptomatology. A high index of suspicion is therefore required to make a timely diagnosis of TB in the elderly.

Conservative management of post traumatic thoraco diaphragmatico biliary fistula.

We report herein a case of thoraco diaphragmatico biliary fistula in a 24-year-old male who was managed conservatively with antibiotics and tube thoracostomy and had complete radiological clearance.

A study of changes in the body composition components in the patients with pulmonary tuberculosis.

The present study deals with the analysis of body composition components of 86 randomly selected patients with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis aged 16- 70 years collected from the District Tuberculosis Centre and Hospital, Amritsar. An adequate number of controls were also taken for comparison. The findings of the present study showed highly significant differences (p < or = 0.001) in all the twelve kinanthropometric variables except height. When the data was further analyzed between sputum negative and sputum positive patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, highly significant differences (p < or = 0.001) were found only in total body fat and statistically significant differences (p < or = 0.05) were observed in weight, chest circumference in normal position, abdominal circumference, right calf and buttock circumferences. It may be concluded that TB patients were more malnourished than normal people. Thus, special nutritional care should be taken to the TB patients to give them a better quality of life.

Genetic diversity in clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Punjab.

SETTING: Two hospitals, Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and the TB and Chest Hospital, Amritsar, Punjab. OBJECTIVE: To explore genetic diversity among the clinical Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates prevalent in Punjab. DESIGN: Fifty-six random clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis were cultured from the sputum specimens of pulmonary tuberculosis patients. DNA was extracted from cultured biomass and analysed using the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRU) typing method. RESULTS: MIRU typing of 51 isolates revealed 45 different patterns, with a combined Hunter-Gaston discriminatory index (HGDI) of 0.990. Five clinical isolates failed to amplify for one or more MIRUs and were excluded from the analysis. The remaining isolates were categorised in three groups based on the allelic heterogeneity of individual MIRUs. MIRU 10, 16, 26 and 31 were highly discriminant, with an HGDI value >0.6; MIRU 4, 23, 24, 39 and 40 were designated as moderately discriminant (HGDI value 0.6-0.3) and MIRU 2, 20 and 27 were poorly discriminant (HGDI value <0.3). CONCLUSION: MIRU typing and the HGDI values revealed that M. tuberculosis strains from Punjab are genetically quite heterogeneous.