Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation during a Course of Miliary Tuberculosis with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Abstract

Miliary tuberculosis (TB) can occasionally lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). In this case report, we present the case of an 18-year-old male who was diagnosed with miliary TB based on miliary shadows on X-ray and computed tomography of the chest, as well as positivity for mycobacterium TB in endotracheal aspirate by cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification. The patient’s hospital stay was complicated by ARDS and DIC, which was successfully managed with ventilatory support, administration of antitubercular treatment, systemic corticosteroids, and blood products.

Keywords

• acute respiratory distress syndrome
• antitubercular treatment
• disseminated intravascular coagulation
• miliary tuberculosis