1. Difficult diagnosis of Infliximab-related miliary tuberculosis
- Author
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Marialuisa Bocchino, Gianfranco Raimondi, Paolo Graziano, Cesare Saltini, Silvia Contini, Contini, S, Raimondi, G, Graziano, P, Saltini, C, and Bocchino, Marialuisa
- Subjects
Pediatrics ,opportunistic infection ,Settore MED/10 - Malattie dell'Apparato Respiratorio ,Miliary ,ethambutol ,lcsh:Medicine ,acid fast bacterium ,rifampicin ,Arthritis, Rheumatoid ,Infliximab ,Miliary tuberculosis ,TNF-α ,Rheumatoid ,antibiotic agent ,corticosteroid ,infliximab ,isoniazid ,nonsteroid antiinflammatory agent ,pyrazinamide ,steroid ,adult ,article ,autopsy ,case report ,death ,electrocardiogram ,female ,fever ,high resolution computer tomography ,hospital admission ,human ,immune deficiency ,immunocompetence ,miliary tuberculosis ,respiratory tract disease ,rheumatic disease ,thorax radiography ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,Antirheumatic Agents ,Female ,Humans ,Middle Aged ,Tomography, X-Ray Computed ,Tuberculin Test ,Tuberculosis, Miliary ,Monoclonal ,skin and connective tissue diseases ,Tomography ,Antirheumatic Agent ,X-Ray Computed ,Rheumatoid arthritis ,Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine ,medicine.drug ,Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine ,musculoskeletal diseases ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Tuberculosis ,Antibodies ,medicine ,business.industry ,Arthritis ,lcsh:R ,medicine.disease ,Surgery ,Empirical treatment ,TNF-α ,business - Abstract
The use of Infliximab in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid diseases unresponsive to conventional therapies has been reported to be complicated by opportunistic infections. We report the case of a 56-yr old female rheumatoid arthritis patient complaining of fever and respiratory symptoms 9 months after commencing Infliximab, who received no ethiologic diagnosis for the six months before admission. Tuberculosis was suspected upon chest radiographic pictures and empirical treatment for miliary tuberculosis instated in the wake of microbiological confirmation. The case typifies the difficulties of diagnosing miliary tuberculosis in the immunocompromised as well as in the immunocompetent patient.
- Published
- 2004