Hepatic tuberculosis in absence of disseminated abdominal tuberculosis

Abstract

Liver involvement in tuberculosis in absence of miliary tuberculosis is rare. This study was performed to analyse the spectrum and response to treatment of hepatic tuberculosis in the absence of miliary abdominal tuberculosis. Retrospective analysis of seven cases of hepatic tuberculosis without miliary abdominal tuberculosis who presented at the single tertiary referral center were analyzed. All patients presented with fever and hepatomegaly. Five of them had pain in upper abdomen and vomiting. HIV serology was positive in one patient. All patients had normocytic normochromic anaemia, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate (Mean 65). Mild elevation of liver enzymes and low albumin (Mean 2.4 gm%) with reversal of albumin globulin ratio (Mean 0.6) were seen in all. Two had jaundice. Prothrombin time was normal in all and lactate dehydrogenase values were elevated in all (Mean 794 IU/L). On ultrasonography, 2 had multiple hypodense lesion, 1 had coarse echotexture of liver, 1had hyperechoic pattern and 3 had just hepatomegaly. Complete resolution of liver lesions on treatment with 4-drug anti-tuberculosis drug chemotherapy was seen. In conclusion, liver tuberculosis has protean manifestations with nonspecific alteration of liver function tests and is best diagnosed on liver biopsy. Overall response to therapy is satisfactory.

Keywords

• Liver
• granuloma
• M tuberculosis