Objective To explore the predictive factors for long-term adverse prognosis in patients with tuberculosis meningitis. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data (general clinical data, laboratory test results, and imaging findings) of hospitalized cases of tuberculosis meningitis admitted to West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 00:00:00 on August 1st, 2011 to 23:59:59 on July 31st, 2012. We collected data of prognosis results after 6 years of illness by telephone follow-up, and quantified outcome measures by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (0–6 points). According to the mRS score, the cases obtaining 0 points≤mRS<3 points were divided into the good prognosis group and the cases obtaining 3≤mRS≤6 points were divided into the poor prognosis group, logistic regression analysis was executed to find the independent risk factors affecting long-term poor prognosis. Results A total of 119 cases were included, including 63 males and 56 females; the average age was (35±17) years. Among them, 53 patients had poor prognosis and 66 patients had good prognosis. After univariate analysis, the age (t=–3.812, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure at admission (t=–2.009, P=0.049), Glasgow Coma Scale score (t=3.987, P<0.001), Medical Research Council (MRC) staging system (Z=–4.854, P<0.001), headache (χ2=4.101, P=0.043), alter consciousness (χ2=10.621, P=0.001), cognitive dysfunction (χ2=4.075, P=0.044), cranial nerve palsy (χ2=5.853, P=0.016), peripheral nerve dysfunction (χ2=14.925, P<0.001), meningeal irritation (χ2=7.174, P=0.007), serum potassium (t=3.080, P=0.003), cerebrospinal fluid protein content (Z=–2.568, P=0.010), cerebrospinal fluid chlorine (t=2.543, P=0.012), hydrocephalus (χ2=11.766, P=0.001), and cerebral infarction (χ2=6.539, P=0.012) were associated with long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Multivariate analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR)=1.061, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.027, 1.096), P<0.001], peripheral nerve dysfunction [OR=3.537, 95%CI (1.070, 11.697), P=0.038], MRC Stage Ⅱ[OR=9.317, 95%CI (1.692, 51.303), P=0.010], MRC Stage Ⅲ [OR=43.953, 95%CI (3.996, 483.398), P=0.002] were the independent risk factors for long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Hydrocephalus [OR=2.826, 95%CI (0.999, 8.200), P=0.050] might be an independent risk factor for long-term poor prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis. Conclusions Age, MRC staging system (Stage Ⅱ, Stage Ⅲ) and peripheral neurological dysfunction are chronic poor-prognostic independent risk factors for tuberculosis meningitis. Hydrocephalus may be associated with long-term adverse prognosis of tuberculosis meningitis
Objective To investigate the efficacy of freeze-driedcancellous allograft in the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. Methods From January 1999 to August 2004, there were 31 cases of spinal tuberculosis who underwent surgery. The freeze-dried cancellous allograft was used as grafting material in all the cases.The cancellous allograft was packed in a titanium mesh cage or an artificial vertebrae, and then used as a strut graft anteriorly to implant into the bone defect after the redical debridement, and the instrumentation was done. Results Twenty-three cases were followed up 1.5 years to 5 years (3.7 years on average), and bonyfusion was achieved in 21 cases 6 months later. In 2 cases ceasing antituberculous therapy after 2 months of operation, the local recurrence was obvious. The loosened screw was noticed in one of these two cases, who had tuberculosis in lumbar spine. When antituberculous therapy continued, the bony fusion was observed in these two cases 12 months later. No further position change of the instrument wasnoticed in the patient carrying loosened screw, but the kyphosis of the thoracolumbar spine aggravated. Conclusion Freeze-dried cancellous allograft could be usedin the treatment of spinal tuberculosis. To achieve good results of allograft incorporation and remodeling, the rigid instrumentation should be performed, postoperative antituberculous therapy is also important.
Objective To observe the clinical features and treatment outcomes of presumed tubercular retinal vasculitis. Methods This is a retrospective non-comparative interventional clinical research. A total of nine patients (11 eyes) with major presentation of retinal vasculitis were included in this study. Patients first consulted the eye clinic and were diagnosed presumed tubercular retinal vasculitis. The patients, seven males and two females, aged from 19 to 66 years, with an average of 43.89 years. The time interval from symptoms to diagnosis ranged from two weeks to six months with an average of 76.27 days. Visual acuity, slit lamp ophthalmoscopy, fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), optical coherence tomography (OCT), hematological and tuberculosis related investigations were examined and analyzed. All patients had standard anti-tuberculosis treatment. Treatment outcomes were followed for six to 37 months with an average of 14.11 months. Results Baseline visual acuity ranged from hand movement to 0.8 with an average of 0.28. Among 11 eyes, six presented mild to moderate vitritis, five presented as retinal vein occlusion with no obvious vitirits. Fundus examination showed six cases with retinal hemorrhage, four cases with macular edema, two with macular epiretinal membrane, and two with vitreous hemorrhage. FFA revealed 11 cases with leakage of vessels, 11 with nonperfusion area, four with macular edema, three with retinal neovascularization, and two with choroidal lesions. OCT of nine eyes suggested six eyes with retinal edema, three with macular edema, three with macular epiretinal membrane. TST of seven patients were all b positive. T-SPOT.TB of four patients were all positive. Three of eight patients who had chest X-ray or chest CT were suggested tuberculosis infection. Four to six weeks after the start of anti-tuberculosis treatment, vitritis, exudates, retinal and macular edema subsided. During follow up, inflammation was stable with no recurrence observed. The visual acuity of last follow-up ranged from 0.15 to 0.8 with an average of 0.51. Conclusions The main presentations of presumed tubercular retinal vasculitis are vitritis, retinal vein occlusion, and retinal hemorrhage. Standard anti-tuberculosis treatment can improve inflammation and retinal hemorrhage.
ObjectiveTo investigate the diagnosis, treatment, classification, and epidemiology of thyroid tuberculosis. MethodsA retrospective study of 5 cases of thyroid tuberculosis and a review of the literatures were analyzed, which related to the clinical characteristics, the gist of the diagnosis and treatment, the causes of misdiagnosis and the methods of operation. ResultsAll of the cases were misdiagnosed before operation. Two cases were diagnosed by the frozen sections during the operations and three cases were diagnosed by postoperative pathology. Subtotal resection or lobectomy and local excision (3 cases) were performed respectively. Debidement and anti-tuberculosis medicine were given locally in 2 unresectable cases. All patients underwent standard chemotherapy for 6－8 months after operations and recovered finally. Four cases were caseous necrosis, 1 case was hyperplasia, all of which were chronic infections thyroid tuberculosis, and no acute thyroid tuberculosis be found. No recurrence was found in the 2－15 years of follow-up. ConclusionsUsually, it is difficult to establish a definite preoperative diagnosis for thyroid tuberculosis. Treatment, such as resection, debridement with local medication or systemic chemotherapy, shall be taken individually according to pathology types, focal features, and comorbidities. For hyperplasia cases, surgical resection shall be the best choice, while, for caseous necrosis cases, sometime difficult to remove, debridement with local medication may be suitable.
In this series of 30 patients of intestinal tuberculosis, diagnosis was made by the typical appearance of caseous change of intestines and mesectery, pathological evidence of endoscopic biopsy or biopsy at operation. In 16 patients preoperative chest X-ray showed pulmonary TB lesion. X-ray gastrointestinal exmaination was performed in 24 patients and 20 patients underwent clonic endoscopy,both of them showed abnormal but nonspecific manifestation.Three patients underwent partial resection of small intestine, 20 patients right hemicolectomy, 3 patients subtotal colectomy, 1 patient abdominal resection of rectum, 2 patients partial resection of small bowel and right hemicolectomy and 1 patient partial resection of ileum and right hemicolon and part of rectum. It is believed that intestinal tuberculosis could manifest itself in segmental changes and bridge of mucosa, and should differented from Crohn’s disease. Resection and anastomosis after exploration and postoperative antituberculosis therapy is necssary.
Objective To observe the multimodal imaging characteristics of the eyes in patients with presumed tuberculous retinal vasculitis. Methods A retrospective case series study. A total of 15 patients (22 eyes) diagnosed with presumed tuberculous retinal vasculitis and receiving anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT) effectively in Department of Ophthalmology, Subei People's Hospital Affiliated to Yangzhou University from January 2018 to April 2021 were included. Among them, there were 5 males and 10 females. Seven had bilateral involvement and 8 had unilateral involvement. The age was 49.3±11.1 years old. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus colour photography, wide-angle fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA), and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were performed in all patients. Indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) was performed in 7 eyes. The BCVA examination was performed with the international standard visual acuity chart, which was converted into the logarithm of minimal angel resolution vision (logMAR). Systemic tuberculosis-related examinations included chest CT, serum T-spot, purified protein derivative and other tuberculosis-related tests. All patients were treated with systemic anti-tuberculosis therapy. The follow-up time was ＞12 months. The multimodal imaging characteristics for affected eyes. Nonparametric test was used to compare BCVA before and after treatment. ResultsThe retinal vessels of all the affected eyes were tortuously dilated, including 3 eyes with vascular white scabbard, 5 eyes with scattered bleeding point at the retina inculding 3 eyes walking along the vessels. The lesions were mainly distributed in the middle and periphery of the retina, and some of them involved the posterior pole; 12 eyes (54.5%, 12/22) with simple retinal vasculitis and 10 eyes (45.5%, 10/22) with retinal vasculitis complicated with choroiditis. Tuberculous retinal vasculitis showed different degrees of retinal vascular leakage on FFA, mainly retinal vein and capillary leakage, not involving arteries; 16 eyes (72.7%, 16/22) of retinal vasculitis showed peripheral occlusive retinal vasculitis and 4 eyes (18.2%, 4/22) were associated with retinal neovascularization. In 10 eyes with choroiditis, there were multiple focal choroiditis lesions of different sizes under the retina. Of the 7 eyes examined by ICGA, the choroidal inflammatory lesions showed hypofluorescent dark dots (HDD) in 5 eyes (71.4%,5/7), showing HDDs of different sizes, most of which were distributed in the posterior pole and middle periphery. In 10 eyes with retinal vasculitis complicated with choroiditis after ATT, the accumulation of hyper-reflective substances above and below the retinal pigment epithelium layer of the retina was gradually absorbed, but not completely disappeared, and most of the disorders of retinal structure could not be recovered. The average logMAR visual acuity was 0.61±0.57 before treatment and 0.36±0.55 after treatment. The BCVA after treatment was significantly higher than that before treatment (Z=－3.102, P＜0.01). ConclusionsPeripheral occlusive retinal vasculitis is the most common manifestation of tuberculous retinal vasculitis in FFA, which may be accompanied by focal choroidal inflammatory lesions. Wide-angle FFA and ICGA are more important in the diagnosis of tuberculous retinal vasculitis. OCT can be used for monitoring the changes of inflammation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of health economics of census versus high-risk population screening for tuberculosis in Mianyan city, in order to provide references for the selection of suitable tuberculosis screening method in western region of China. MethodsWe included active tuberculosis patients by residents health screening of 21 villages and towns in Mianyan city from June 2013 to March 2013. Relevant data was analyzed by referencing the National Assessment of Tuberculosis Control Program in 2001-2010. Results184047 residents were screened by tuberculosis census and 128 active tuberculosis patients were diagnosed while 61045 residents were screened by high-risk population screening and 76 active tuberculosis patients were diagnosed. The cost-utility ratio and benefit-cost ratio of tuberculosis census were 6174.17 and 3.84, respectively. The cost-utility ratio and benefit-cost ratio of high risk population screening were 3106.16 and 7.62, respectively. ConclusionHigh-risk population screening has higher cost-utility ratio and benefit-cost ratio than tuberculosis census with higher missed diagnosis. Benefits and harms of tuberculosis detection rate and cost should be fully balanced before tuberculosis screening method were chosen in western underdeveloped region of China.
Objective To investigate the value of multislice spiral CT （MSCT） findings in the diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis. Methods MSCT imaging data, including both plain and contrast-enhanced CT scan, of 14 patients with hepatic tuberculosis confirmed by surgery (5 patients), aspiration biopsy (4 patients), or clinic follow-up (5 patients) were collected for the study. MSCT findings were analyzed with correlation of pathological changes. Results Hepatic tuberculosis was classified into 2 types. ①The parenchymal type (12 patients), which was further divided into 4 subtypes: Miliary subtype (2 patients) showed multiple tiny hypodense dots with faint border and had no enhancement; Nodular subtype (5 patients) showed blurring border on plain CT scan, 2 patients had no enhancement, 2 had peripheral rim-like enhancement, and peripheral rim enhancement mixed with no enhancement in 1 patient; Abscess subtype (4 patients) showed central hypodense area with peripheral zone-like enhancement in 2 patients, or patchy like slight enhancement in 2 patients; Fabric and calcific subtype (1 patient) depicted enplaque calcification. ②The serohepatic type (2 patients) showed thickened hepatic capsule, sub-capsule nodules with slight enhancement, and local subcapsular fluid collection. Other signs included hepatomegaly, tuberculous lymphadenopathy, splenic tuberculosis, and tuberculosis of pancreas, adrenal glands, intestine and thorax. Conclusion MSCT plays an important role in diagnosis of hepatic tuberculosis, by reflecting underlying pathological changes.
Objective To investigate and analyze the incidence and clinical characteristics of malnutrition in patients with tuberculosis and type 2 diabetes. Methods four hundred patients with tuberculosis and type 2 diabetes were diagnosed in the tuberculosis Department of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from June 1, 2018 to April 30, 2023. The incidence and clinical characteristics of malnutrition were analyzed using the nutritional risk Screening 2002 score and the Global Malnutrition Leadership Initiative criteria. Results 170 patients (42.5%) were malnourished. In malnourished patients, 78 cases (45.9%) had fever, 132 cases (77.6%) had cough, 44 cases (25.9%) had hemoptysis, and 36 cases (21.2%) had night sweating. Compared with the non-malnourished patients, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Lymphocyte count was (1.0±0.5)×109/L, albumin was (31.4±20.5)g/L; CD3 count 792.7±205.0, CD4 count 535.4±15.0, CD8 count 429.5±123.0, CD3%: 65.5%±11.1%, CD4%: 39.1%±9.6%, CD8%: 19.1%±9.6%, CD4/CD8: 1.3±0.2, which were significantly lower than those in the group without malnutrition. Pulmonary cavity occurred in 44 cases (25.9%), lesions in 2 - 4 lung fields in 76 cases (44.7%) and lesions in ≥5 lung fields in 52 cases (30.6%), all of which were significantly higher than those in the non-malnutrition group. The above differences were statistically significant.Conclusion We should pay more attention to the screening of malnutrition in patients with tuberculosis and type 2 diabetes. Patients with malnutrition have more obvious clinical symptoms, lower immunity, and more serious imaging lesions.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rifampicin plus pyrazinamide versus isoniazid for prevention of tuberculosis among persons with or without HIV-infection respectively. Methord Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials(RCT) and quasi-randomized controlled trials(quasi RCT) that compared rifampicin plus pyrazinamide for 2-3 months with isoniazid for 6-12 months. Endpoints were development of active tuberculosis, severe adverse effects, and death. Treatment effects were summarized as risk difference (RD) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Three trials conducted in HIV-infected patients and 3 trials conducted in HIV-uninfected persons were identified. The rates of tuberculosis in the rifampicin plus pyrazinamide group were similar to that in the isoniazid group, whether the subjects were HIV-infected patients or not (for HIV-infected patients: pooled RD= 0%, 95%CI: -1% to 2%, P=0.89; for HIV-uninfected persons: pooled RD=0%, 95%CI: -2% to 1%, P=0.55). There was no difference in mortality between the two treatment groups (for HIV-infected patients: pooled RD=-1%, 95%CI: -4% to 2%, P=0.53; for HIV-uninfected persons: pooled RD=0%, 95%CI: -1% to 1%, P=1.00). However, both subgroup analyses showed that a higher incidence of all severe adverse events was associated with rifampicin plus pyrazinamide than isoniazid among HIV-uninfected persons (one: RD=29%, 95%CI: 13% to 46%; P=0.000 5; another: RD=7%, 95%CI: 4% to 10%; Plt;0.000 1). Conclusion Rifampicin plus pyrazinamide is equivalent to isoniazid in terms of efficacy and mortality in the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection. However, this regimen increases risk of severe adverse effects compared with isoniazid in HIV-uninfected persons.