Tuberculosis natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: João André Alves Silva, M.D. [2]
Overview
Natural History
Without treatment, 1/3 of patients with active tuberculosis dies within 1 year of the diagnosis, and more than 50% during the first 5 years.[1]
According to its clinical manifestations, pulmonary tuberculosis may be classified as primary or secondary (or post-primary) tuberculosis:[1]
Primary Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Primary tuberculosis develops soon after infection with M. tuberculosis and is not the same as clinical illness. Primary TB may be asymptomatic, or include mild symptoms, such as fever and chest pain (related to pleurisy). In endemic regions, this form of TB is frequently seen at younger ages. At this point, some patients may develop concomitant symptoms, such as erythema nodosum in the lower limbs and phlyctenulosis. The initial lesion (Ghon focus) often resolves spontaneously, becoming a calcified nodule that may be identified on chest X-Ray. Pleuritic chest pain often results from the pleural reaction to the underlying Ghon focus.[1]
Primary tuberculosis progresses more rapidly in patients with impaired immune system and in children with immature cellular immunity. The Ghon focus enlarges, and the disease may have different manifestations, including:[1]
- Pleural effusion - results from invasion of the pleural space by M. tuberculosis. More common when the focus of infection is subpleural.
- Cavitation - results from rapid enlargement of the Ghon focus, with ensuing necrosis of its nucleus.
- Lymphadenopathy - the spread of M. tuberculosis from the lungs to lymph leads to enlargement of the lymph nodes, especially of the paratracheal and perihilar regions.
- Airway obstruction - with symptoms of shortness of breath and wheezing. Commonly occurs in cases of severe enlargement of the lymph nodes, compressing the airways and possibly leading to distal collapse, partial obstruction with wheezing, or hyperinflation.
- Pneumonia - may occur when lymph nodes rupture and leak their content into the airways.
- Bronchiectasis - progressive pneumonia may damage a specific segment of the lung, or an entire lobe, leading to bronchiectasis.
Primary infection leads to dissemination of M. tuberculosis through the blood. Hematogenous dissemination is often contained by an healthy immune system, however, in cases of compromised immune response, miliary tuberculosis may occur. Dissemination of the mycobacteria may lead to the formation of granulomatous lesions in other organs, which may develop different forms of the disease.[1]
Secondary Pulmonary Tuberculosis
Also known as "adult-type" or "post primary tuberculosis". May result from recent infection with M. tuberculosis, or from the reactivation of an endogenous focus that contained the latent form of the disease. Without treatment, about 1/3 of patients dies within months of disease onset. Of the remaining 2/3, some may experience remission, while others develop a chronic condition with debilitating symptoms. The surviving patients may show fibrotic and calcified lesions, as well as cavitations in some areas of the lungs, which may be later appreciated on a chest X-Ray.[1]
Disease onset is insidious and unspecific, presenting with symptoms that may include:
- Fever
- Night sweats
- Weakness
- Malaise
- Anorexia
- Weight loss
- Cough (90% cases) - nonproductive at the outset, more frequent during the morning, that gradually progresses to productive cough, with purulent sputum, with occasional streaks of blood
- Hemoptysis (20-30% cases) may occur in the following cases:
- Rupture of a blood vessel on a cavity wall (severe hemoptysis)
- Rupture of a pulmonary artery aneurysm adjacent or within a tuberculous cavity (Rasmussen's aneurysm)
- Formation of an aspergilloma in a lung cavity
- Pleuritic chest pain
- Dyspnea (in severe disease)
- ARDS
Complications
Tuberculosis may be localized to the lungs, or involve other organs and regions of the body. Depending on the pulmonary, or extrapulmonary nature of the lesion, potential complications that may arise include:[3]
| Location | Complications |
|---|---|
- Parenchymal lesions:
- Tuberculoma
- Thin-walled cavity
- Cicatrization
- Lung destruction
- Aspergilloma
- Bronchogenic carcinoma
- Airway lesions:
- Bronchiectasis
- Tracheobronchial stenosis
- Broncholithiasis
- Vascular lesions
- Pulmonary or bronchial arteritis and thrombosis
- Bronchial artery dilatation
- Rasmussen aneurysm
- Mediastinal lesions:
- Lymph node calcification
- Extranodal extension
- Esophagomediastinal fistula
- Esophagobronchial fistula
- Constrictive pericarditis
- Fibrosing mediastinitis
- Pleural lesions:
- Chronic empyema
- Fibrothorax
- Bronchopleural fistula
- Pneumothorax
- Chest wall lesions:
- Rib tuberculosis
- Tuberculous spondylitis
- Malignancy
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Prognosis
If untreated, active tuberculosis is often fatal. According to studies performed in several countries, 1/3 of the untreated patients died within 1 year after the diagnosis, while > 50% died within the first 5 years. However, with adequate treatment, these patients have a good prognosis.[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Longo, Dan (2012). Harrison's principles of internal medicine. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 007174889X.
- ↑ "Wikimedia Commons".
- ↑ Kim HY, Song KS, Goo JM, Lee JS, Lee KS, Lim TH (2001). "Thoracic sequelae and complications of tuberculosis". Radiographics. 21 (4): 839–58, discussion 859-60. doi:10.1148/radiographics.21.4.g01jl06839. PMID 11452057.