TY - JOUR T1 - Venous thromboembolic events in tuberculosis JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 42 IS - Suppl 57 SP - P4451 AU - Hans Dabó AU - Manuel Vaz AU - Nelson Teixeira AU - Isabel Gomes Y1 - 2013/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4451.abstract N2 - Introduction: Respiratory infections are known to increase the risk of venous thromboembolic events (VTE), which are considered rare in TB patients, and linked to rifampicin treatment.Objectives: To assess the frequency of VTE in patients hospitalized for TB, its demographic and clinical characteristics, therapy and mortality.Methods: Adult patients hospitalized for TB in a tertiary hospital without HIV infection between 2007 and 2011 were evaluated. VTE were diagnosed by chest angioTC (pulmonary embolism - PE) or Ecodoppler (deep vein thrombosis - DVT). Prior TB treatment institution, prophylactic therapy of VTE and VTE treatment were evaluated.Results: Of the 208 TB patients (mean age 54 years, male: 76%) 15 (7.2%) were diagnosed with VTE (mean age 56 years, male: 67%): pulmonary TB: 12 cases, disseminated TB: 2, lymph node TB: 1. Five patients had PE, 7 limb DVT, 2 cervical vessels DVT, and 1 had PE, cervical vessel DVT and right atrium thrombus. VTE occurred less than 1 month after starting antibacillary drugs, except in 1 patient (3 months). All were treated with rifampicin. Most patients (73%) didn’t receive thromboprophylaxis; 73% were treated with low molecular weight heparin. Two patients died (13%), with the remaining being discharged, most (85%) with oral anticoagulants.Conclusions: The frequency of VTE in this study was higher than in previous studies regarding hospitalized patients with TB (up to 3.4%). The authors conclude that VTE is an important complication in this population, mainly in the initial phase of antituberculous treatment, justifying the use of thromboprophylaxis in patients with known risk factors for VTE. Rifampicin and other uncharted factors may influence prevalence of VTE in TB patients. ER -