Background: Peritoneal tuberculosis represents 0, 1 to 4% of all forms of tuberculosis.
Aim: The aim of our study is to describe clinical, therapeutic characteristics and the outcome of peritoneal tuberculosis.
Methods: Retrospective study of all cases of peritoneal tuberculosis diagnosed in gastroenterology B department - Rabta Hospital during a 12 years period (1996 to 2007).
Results: Forty three cases of peritoneal tuberculosis were included: 15 male and 28 female with mean age of 38years (extremes: 16 to 85years). Five patients were cirrhotic. Clinical manifestations were dominated by ascitis (83%). Ascitic fluid were exsudative in 97% of cases and lymphocytic in all cases. The diagnostic was based on coelioscopy with peritoneal biopsy in 26 cases demonstrating caseating granulomatous lesions in 64% of cases. Extra peritoneal tuberculosis was noted in 60, 4% dominated by pleuro-pulmonary localisations. Patients were given antituberculous therapy for a mean duration of 9, 8 months and the outcome was favourable in 93%.
Conclusion: Peritoneal tuberculosis is still a medical problem in Tunisia. It is more common in young female. Diagnosis is based on the results of peritoneal biopsies during celioscopy. The outcome is good in most cases after antituberculous treatment.