Various approaches to tuberculosis diagnosis in patients with hemoblastosis

AIM: To characterize diagnosis of tuberculosis in hemoblastosis patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Diagnosis of active tuberculosis in 2.6% from 2123 hemoblastosis patients admitted to Hematological Research Center in 1990-1999 shows that such patients can be referred to high risk group in relation to tuberculosis infection. Methods and terms of tuberculosis diagnosis in hemoblastosis patients are analysed. RESULTS: Bacteriological and histological tests were positive in 27.8% examinees with hemoblastosis. In extrapulmonary tuberculosis location, histological diagnosis was positive in 60%. Especially helpful is a complex of clinical and x-ray examinations in high tuberculosis alertness. This allowed to suspect the infection in 51.9% patients (63.9% had pulmonary location). A marked positive response to antituberculosis treatment proved tuberculosis diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Difficulties of tuberculosis diagnosis in hemoblastosis patients are explained by low informative effectiveness of most common methods of this infection verification. Therefore, in addition to bacteriological and histological examinations, clinical diagnostic techniques should be employed keeping alert in relation of tuberculosis in hemoblastosis patients who are at risk to catch this infection.