A case of pulmonary, pleural, and renal tuberculosis associated with DIC and a prolonged increase in D-dimer

Abstract

A 26-year-old male who had been diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis three years ago with an antituberculous chemotherapy of only two months, complained of tiredness, exertional dyspnea and fever since a month ago. Bloody sputum, bloody stool and hematuria have developed three days before admission. Petechiae over the body trunk and lower extremities were observed on admission. Peripheral blood examination revealed lymphocytopenia (672/microliters), low hemoglobin content (6.2 g/dl), thrombocytopenia (3,000/microliters), elevated FDP (36.2 micrograms/ml) and D-dimer (25.0 micrograms/ml) values. Chest radiograph showed a massive pleural effusion in the right hemithorax, bilateral pulmonary infiltrates and a cavity on CT scan. Together with positive acid-fast bacilli in sputum, diagnoses of relapsed pulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculous pleurisy associated with DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation) were made. Left hydronephrosis which was presumed to be a consequence of infundibulum stenosis due to renal tuberculosis, was detected by abdominal ultrasonography. Treatment with antituberculous drugs and protease inhibitors were started with thoracic tube drainage. DIC condition was improved by the 20th hospital day and sputum culture turned to be negative after the 4th week, however, fever up to 38 degrees C continued until the end of the 7th week and a D-dimer which is a representative marker for secondary fibrinolysis, continuously showed a high level up to the 10th week of hospitalization. The patient was uneventful during the three months follow up period after discharge. DIC is a well known complication of sepsis including miliary tuberculosis, whereas it is rarely associated with cavitary tuberculosis and no case of prolonged elevation of D-dimer have been reported.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)