[Tuberculosis in the immunodepressed patient].

Tuberculosis is one of the opportunist infections which may complicate the course of many immunodepressive conditions generally those affecting cell-mediated immunity as the Koch bacillus is an organism which develops intracellularly provoking the activation of the cellular type of defence reaction. Recently, patients with malignant disease and immunosuppressive therapy have been joined by those with the acquired immunodepressive syndrome. It is important to understand that the frequency of tuberculosis in immunodepression is a reflection of the frequency of the disease in the general population. In addition, the diagnosis of atypical forms of tuberculosis can be difficult: the presenting signs are not specific and extrapulmonary forms are common. Therefore, tuberculosis should be suspected whenever immunodepressed patients develop unexplained symptoms. All practical means of confirming the diagnosis should be employed and the patient given a course of antituberculous drugs if there is any doubt as early treatment is an important prognostic factor.