Tuberculosis in chronic hemodialysis patients at the Teaching Hospital of Point G (CHU) in Bamako

AIMS: To determine the frequency and the diagnostic difficulties of tuberculosis of haemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was about a retrospective analyse of patients haemodialysis records treated for tuberculosis within January 2003 to April 2006. The tuberculosis check-up contained a questioning, a meticulous clinic examination, thorax radiography, a tuberculosis intra dermoreaction (IDR) and the search of Koch Bacillus (BK) in biological liquids. RESULTS: Tuberculosis was identified to 15.52% of haemodialysis patients (10/95). The average age of our patients was from 44.3 years, with a ratio sex of 2.5 in favour of men. Tuberculosis infection happened on average 27.4 months after the beginning of the haemodialysis. We found out 50% of extra pulmonary tuberculosis (three peritoneales and two pleurales); and 50% of pulmonary tuberculosis. The IDR was positive in two cases (2/6). The search of BK didn't succeed. We reported three deaths. CONCLUSION: The effect of tuberculosis to chronic haemodialysis patients is very high. The diagnostic is sometimes difficult and is based only on specific therapeutic test.