S5150 A Rare Case of Disseminated Tuberculosis Presenting as Abdominal Pain, Diarrhea, and Periprostatic Venous Thrombosis
Sarah Stewart, Danielle Morelli, David Wan
The American Journal of Gastroenterology · 2025-10
Abstract
Introduction: Disseminated tuberculosis (TB) occurs in <2% of immunocompetent TB patients and often mimics malignancy or IBD, particularly when accompanied by gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms or TB-associated hypercoagulability. The condition may arise as unresolving or recurrent pneumonia, delaying diagnosis. Late recognition increases morbidity, as shown by the ileocecal and thrombotic complications in this case. Case Description/Methods: A 45-year-old Haitian man with recent influenza-associated pneumonia presented to the Emergency Department with 3 weeks of productive cough, dyspnea and fevers accompanied by abdominal pain, non-bloody diarrhea and recent 50-pound unintentional weight loss. He denied recent travel or immunosuppression. He works as hospital custodial staff. On exam, he was afebrile but tachycardic and hypotensive with decreased left breath sounds. Labs showed hemoglobin 8.3 g/dL, MCV 84, platelets of 542 × 109/L, and elevated inflammatory markers (procalcitonin 1.47 ng/mL, C-reactive protein 141 mg/L, and ferritin 3151 ng/mL) with negative HIV test. Imaging revealed left lung consolidation, terminal ileal thickening and a periprostatic venous thrombus, confirmed on computed tomography (CT) venogram. Despite antibiotics, he developed recurrent hypotension, tachycardia and fever. AFB culture confirmed TB. He improved on RIPE, ceftriaxone, and LMWH (avoiding DOACs due to rifampin interactions). Endoscopy and GI/hematologic follow-up were deferred to outpatient until TB therapy completion. Discussion: Disseminated TB is uncommon in immunocompetent individuals and mimics chronic inflammatory or neoplastic processes. Disseminated TB can present with non-resolving pneumonia, particularly in patients from endemic regions and should be considered when symptoms persist. It can mimic GI conditions like IBD (ileal thickening, weight loss, diarrhea with elevated calprotectin) and malignancy (unprovoked thrombosis). TB ileitis lacks the deep transverse ulcerations seen in Crohn’s disease. TB-associated hypercoagulability, seen in up to 2% of TB patients, involves TNF-alpha, tissue factor upregulation, and impaired anticoagulation as illustrated by this rare periprostatic thrombosis without traditional risk factors. High suspicion is required in patients from endemic regions with unexplained thrombosis, GI, and pulmonary symptoms. Multidisciplinary management involves early initiation of RIPE and anticoagulation to decrease morbidity and mortality, then malignancy evaluation.
MeSH terms
- Medicine
- Malignancy
- Tuberculosis
- Surgery
- Disseminated intravascular coagulation
- Venous thrombosis
- Pneumonia
- Diarrhea
- Lung
- Internal medicine
- Ileocecal valve
- Radiology
- Packed red blood cells
- Gastroenterology
- Abdominal pain
- Emergency department
- Biopsy
- Coagulopathy
- Thrombosis