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Previous Volume 341:645-649 August 26, 1999 Number 9 Next

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ABSTRACT

Background The prevalence of tuberculosis, especially extrapulmonary tuberculosis, is increasing worldwide. Because information on the outcome of pregnancy among women with extrapulmonary tuberculosis is limited, we studied the course of pregnancy and labor and the perinatal outcome in these women and their infants.

Methods From 1983 to 1993, we followed 33 pregnant women who had extrapulmonary tuberculosis (12 with tuberculous lymphadenitis and 9 with intestinal, 7 with skeletal, 2 with renal, 2 with meningeal, and 1 with endometrial tuberculosis) through their deliveries. Of the 33, 29 received antituberculosis treatment during pregnancy. The antenatal complications, intrapartum events, and perinatal outcomes were compared with those among 132 healthy pregnant women without tuberculosis who were matched for age, parity, and socioeconomic status.

Results Tuberculous lymphadenitis did not affect the course of pregnancy or labor or the perinatal outcome. However, as compared with the control women, the 21 women with tubercular involvement of other extrapulmonary sites had higher rates of antenatal hospitalization (24 percent vs. 2 percent, P< 0.001), infants with low Apgar scores (6) soon after birth (19 percent vs. 3 percent, P=0.01), and low-birth-weight (<2500 g) infants (33 percent vs. 11 percent, P=0.01).

Conclusions Extrapulmonary tuberculosis that is confined to the lymph nodes has no effect on obstetrical outcomes, but tuberculosis at other extrapulmonary sites does adversely affect the outcome of pregnancy.

Source Information

From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Memorial Hospital, Darlington, United Kingdom (N.J.); the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India (K.V., S.C.S.); and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, West Middlesex University Hospital, Isleworth, Middlesex, United Kingdom (K.G.).

Address reprint requests to Dr. Vasishta at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.

Full Text of this Article

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