Cutaneous and articular tuberculosis in a renal transplant recipient

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Miguel Moyses-Neto, Daniel Drumond, Giuliano Morgantetti, Tania Maria Pisi Garcia, Valdes Roberto Bolella, Elen Almeida Romao
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT)
• Subjects: Cutaneous tuberculosis; Articular tuberculosis; Kidney transplant; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0090-2016; https://doaj.org/article/88ada08e0f7644ebb0982e1d838db41f

Abstract Seven months after undergoing kidney transplantation, a 56-year-old woman presented with papules and ulcers in her right forearm. The patient received antibiotics for 8 months with limited improvement. Eleven months after symptom onset, she presented with acute arthritis in her left knee. Asynovial fluid culture yielded Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and a forearm ulcer biopsy showed granulomatous inflammation. After surgical fistulectomy and 12 months of tuberculosis treatment, she was cured. Chronic cutaneous ulcers and articular manifestations in TB are rare, but they should always be considered in the differential diagnosis for immunosuppressed patients. Surgical intervention and prolonged treatment might be necessary.