[Tuberculosis in patients with asthma]

Abstract

Introduction: The association of asthma and tuberculosis is rare but may raise particular issues around patient management. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical, therapeutic and progress of this association.

Patients and methods: We describe a retrospective study, which included seven asthmatic patients hospitalized for pulmonary tuberculosis during the period between June 2001 and June 2006.

Results: Five men and two women were included. Mean age was 37 years. Two patients had mild asthma, four had moderate asthma and one had severe and corticosteroid-dependant asthma. Only four patients had controlled asthma when tuberculosis diagnosis was established. Asthma treatment was based on inhaled corticoids and long-acting beta-2-agonists. During antituberculosis treatment two patients developed near fatal asthma. Long-term stable asthma control was achieved over a time course of 3 to 8 years.

Conclusion: The association of asthma and tuberculosis can lead to potential therapeutic difficulties because of pharmacologic interactions between antituberculosis therapies and treatments for asthma treatment. In addition asthma following treatment for tuberculosis appears to be well controlled.