PERITONEAL TUBERCULOSIS IN INFLIXIMAB USER AFTER NEGATIVE SCREENING FOR LATENT INFECTION BY M. TUBERCULOSIS

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is the most severe subtype of spondyloarthritis. The main symptoms of AS are joint pain and stiffness and loss of mobility of the spine, which can result in functional impairment and decrease in the patient's quality of life. Although the primary treatment of patients with AS is with general drugs (NSAIDs, short-acting corticosteroids) associated with physical therapy, anti-TNF-α agents promote a significant improvement in the function and quality of life of patients with AS. However, they suppress the immune system, increasing susceptibility to infections, such as reactivation of latent tuberculosis (TB) or development of active TB (50% of extrapulmonary cases, 25% disseminated disease). Abdominal TB corresponds to 5% of TB cases, with ascites, abdominal pain and fever.