Miliary Tuberculosis Presenting With Meningitis in a Patient Treated With Mycophenolate for Lupus Nephritis: Challenges in Diagnosis and Review of the Literature

Targeted Six-Week Intensive Physiotherapy for a Case of Tuberculous Meningitis With a Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is a severe form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (TB) characterized by the invasion of Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the meninges surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It triggers an intense inflammatory response, leading to neurological complications if not promptly and adequately managed. TBM often precipitates muscle weakness, neurological deficits, respiratory challenges, swallowing difficulties, joint contractures, and pain. Physiotherapy intervention is essential in treating these problems by personalized treatment strategies and treatment plans to enhance muscle strength, motor control, coordination, and overall mobility. This case report aims to highlight the significant role of physiotherapy in improving the quality of life (QOL) and functional abilities of patients with TBM. The current case report reviews the case of a 73-year-old male who presented with complaints of generalized weakness and difficulty in swallowing. The patient had a history of fever for the last six months. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) diagnosed the case as TBM with miliary TB. Six weeks of targeted intensive rehabilitation program was designed according to the patient's impairments initiated from the intensive care unit (ICU) phase. The main goals of physiotherapy were to start early bed mobility, maintain joint integrity, improve postural strength and swallowing, and make the patient independent in transfer and activities of daily living (ADLs). After a six-week intensive physiotherapy (TIP-6) program, the patient exhibited significant improvements in muscle strength and independence in ADLs. This case highlights the critical role of physiotherapy in enhancing the QOL and functional abilities of patients with severe TB-related conditions.

Clinical characteristics and related influencing factors of common rheumatic diseases concomitant with tuberculosis

Objective

To explore the clinical characteristics and risk factors of common systemic rheumatism concomitant with tuberculosis (TB).

Methods

A total of 3,906 patients of RA, SLE, and SS diagnosed in the People's Hospital of Sichuan Province from January 2007 to January 2017 were collected. One hundred and five patients with TB were included as TB group, including 42 RA, 41 SLE, and 22 SS patients. In the non-TB group, 84 RA, 82 SLE, and 44 SS patients were randomly selected during the same period.

Results

Fever was the most common symptom among RA, SLE, and SS patients with TB, accounting for 83.3%, 92.7%, and 68.2%, respectively. Cough, weight loss or fatigue were the next common. RA patients with TB were mostly pulmonary TB (PTB), accounting for 64.3%. The proportion of PTB for SLE and SS were 46.3%, 59.01%, respectively. In TB group, 59% RA, 57% SLE, and 62% SS with PTB had two or more chest CT findings. There were 48 TB cases received both Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and Tuberculin skin test (TST) with positive rates of 91.8%, 45.8%, respectively. The daily average dose of glucocorticoids within 1 year in TB group was higher than that in non-TB group of SLE patients, lower counts of CD4+ T cell count were found in TB group (P < 0.05), while no such differences were found in RA and SS patients.

Conclusion

RA patients with TB are mainly pulmonary TB. For SLE and SS patients, the chance of PTB and extrapulmonary tuberculosis is similar. Daily average dose of glucocorticoids within 1 year may be a common risk factor for RA, SLE and SS patients developing TB. Decreased CD4+ T cell count may also be a risk factor for SLE patients with TB. Symptoms of RA, SLE, SS with TB, are similar with the primary disease or other infection. It is recommended to conduct both TST and IGRA to help diagnose TB.

Tuberculosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus-a 37-year longitudinal survey-based study

BACKGROUND

Infections are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). SLE patients have a higher risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection due to impaired immune defence.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the demographics, clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with SLE and concomitant TB.

METHODS

Medical records of SLE patients with TB who were admitted to Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) Hospital in 1983-2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Age- and sex-matched SLE inpatients without TB were randomly selected as controls. Clinical and laboratory features and treatment were analysed and compared, and subjects were followed up to assess their outcome.

RESULTS

Of the 10 469 SLE inpatients, 249 (2.4%) were diagnosed with TB. Compared with controls, SLE/TB + patients exhibited higher frequency of prior haematologic, mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal system involvement, and prior treatment with potent glucocorticoid/immunosuppressive agents (GC/ISA). Arthritis and alopecia, positive T-SPOT.TB test and lymphocytopenia were more common in SLE/TB + patients. SLE/TB + patients with lupus before TB (SLE → TB) had higher risk of miliary TB (22.8%) and intracranial TB (16.5%) than SLE/TB + patients with lupus after TB (TB → SLE). SLE/TB + patients exhibited shorter long-term survival than SLE/TB- patients; those with poorer in-hospital outcomes had more severe lymphocytopenia and had received less treatment with ISAs.

CONCLUSION

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated vigorously with GC/ISA should be alerted of increased risk of TB infection, especially miliary and intracranial TB. Positive T-SPOT.TB and lymphocytopenia served as discriminatory variables between SLE/TB + and SLE/TB- patients. Lymphocytopenia was associated with poorer outcomes in SLE/TB + patients.