[Pancytopenic form of acute tuberculosis].

The authors report two cases of febrile pancytopenia of tuberculous origin. In both cases specific antibiotic treatment led to disappearance of the clinical and blood signs. These cases, together with 65 others, found in the world literature were then analysed. In most cases (54), death occurred owing to lack of early diagnosis and treatment, whilst in 14 cases, cure was obtained when the treatment was not started to late. The authors emphasize the necessity of liver biopsy to make the diagnosis of tuberculosis in any case of unexplained pancytopenia with fever.