Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation in Miliary Tuberculosis and AIDS: A Case Report

Abstract

Background The aim of this study is to present the success of a multidisciplinary approach in a patient with a rare triad of disease.

Case Description A 33-year-old patient with newly diagnosed human immunodeficiency virus infection presented with miliary tuberculosis, consecutive adult respiratory distress syndrome, and multiple-organ failure. An interdisciplinary, time-limited approach combining extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, intensive care therapy, hemodiafiltration, tuberculostatic therapy, steroids, and antiretroviral therapy led to survival despite a low probability at presentation.

Conclusion Even though the use of such extensive and expensive treatment can be questioned, this example encourages an aggressive approach in a young patient, even in situations of multiple diagnosis of individually limited prognosis.

Keywords

adult respiratory distress syndrome - human immunodeficiency virus - miliary tuberculosis - extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Introduction

Miliary tuberculosis (TB) with severe adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multiple-organ failure (MOF) as a first manifestation of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is rare in Western countries. Mortality ranges between 60 and 90%. We report a case of severe ARDS due to miliary TB necessitating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Despite the limited prognosis due to the severity of the condition plus a newly diagnosed advanced HIV infection, the patient survived.

Case Description

A 33-year-old woman, native Kenyan, married and living in Switzerland for 7 years, was admitted to an area hospital with fever, diarrhea, vomiting, pain in the right upper abdomen, and weight loss of 5 kg over 2 weeks. Cholecystitis was suspected (CRP 94 mg/L [normal < 5], ASAT 96 U/L, ALAT 91 U/L [normal 32], alkaline phosphatase 332 U/L [normal 117], lactate dehydrogenase 775 U/L [normal 214]), and antibiotic therapy with ceftriaxone and metronidazole was started. Radiologic investigations, however, showed major retro- and intraperitoneal lymphadenopathy and hepatomegaly with ascites as well as a suspicion of miliary TB on chest radiography ([Fig. 1]). These findings triggered a HIV test which was positive with 93 CD4 cells/µL and a viral load of 591,000 copies/mL. Sputum samples were collected and tuberculostatic therapy with rifampicin, isoniazid, ethambutol, and pyrazinamide was started on day 4. After an initially stable condition, the respiratory status deteriorated on the 5th hospital day within hours, MOF developed with hemodynamic instability and anuria, necessitating emergent intubation and intensive care therapy. In the following hours, mechanical ventilation became increasingly difficult with a Horowitz index of 70 (Po₂ 9.34 kPa, Pco₂ 7.43 kPa, SO₂ 80.3%, pH 7.014, HCO₃- 13.5 mmol/L, base eccess -16.1 mmol/L). Therefore, our ECMO team consisting of a surgeon, perfusionist, and anesthesiologist was requested for ECMO support and retrieval of the patient. Due to respiratory failure coupled with hemodynamic instability and in view of the pending transport to a tertiary care center, it was decided to put the patient on circulatory–respiratory support (veno-arterial ECMO) ([Fig. 2]). The ECMO support system, brought by the ECMO team, was primed on scene to guarantee maximal sterility. The left femoral artery (Novaport 17 Fr, Novalung, Heilbronn, Germany) and right femoral vein (Edwards 24 Fr, Irvine, United States) were cannulated using transcutaneous Seldinger technique and ECMO support (Permanent Life Support Set, Maquet, Hirrlingen, Germany) was commenced with 4 L/minute pump flow, gas flow 5 L/min, Fio₂ 1.0. In view of the short transport time (40 minutes), distal perfusion of the lower limb of the arterially cannulated left leg was not considered. The patient remained stable during the ensuing transport by ambulance.

Fig. 1 Chest X-ray at 5:00 am on the day of admission.

Fig. 2 Chest X-ray at 2:00 pm on the day of admission (intubated; with the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation cannulas in place).

In the bronchoalveolar lavage conducted upon arrival in the tertiary care center, mycobacterium tuberculosis could be visualized on a Ziehl Nielson stain. Testing for pneumocystis jiroveci was negative.

In an interdisciplinary discussion putting the severe condition and the concomitant diagnoses of the patient into perspective, a time-limited trial of full intensive care support for initial 3 days was agreed upon, after which the situation would be reconsidered.

Hemodynamic stabilization could be achieved quickly, thus, shortly after the arrival in the tertiary care center, ECMO-support mode was changed to veno-venous (v-v) by cannulation of the right jugular vein (NovaPort 19 Fr, Novalung, Heilbronn, Germany) and removal of the femoral arterial cannula. The subsequent v-v ECMO run was uneventful and the patient could successfully be weaned on day 6 (total ECMO run 147.5 hours, a-v ECMO 4.5 hours, and v-v ECMO 143 hours). Continuous v-v hemodiafiltration was performed for 191 hours, initially connected to the ECMO circuit for the time thereof, and afterward by means of a Shaldon catheter. Mechanical ventilation was necessary for a total of 11 days. Search for other concomitant diseases (lymph node biopsy for possible HIV-associated lymphoma or TB meningitis) was discussed but rejected due to the necessity of anticoagulation on ECMO. Methylprednisolone (125 mg/day) was given for treatment of early ARDS.

The patient recovered slowly. She developed a severe critical illness polyneuropathy which prolonged her intensive care unit stay, but could be transferred to the medical ward on day 15 ([Fig. 3]). She also suffered from profound pancytopenia (minimal values: hemoglobin 7.2 g/dL, thrombocytes 25,000/mm³; leucocytes 4.1 × 10/3), necessitating transfusion of both erythrocytes and thrombocytes, as well as an ongoing hepato- and nephropathy, probably all due to the miliary TB. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) with ritonavir-boosted darunavir, lamivudine, and abacavir was started 33 days after admission and initiating TB treatment. The patient was referred to a rehabilitation clinic 48 days after hospitalization.

Fig. 3 Chest X-ray 17 days after admission.

Conclusion

HIV-positive patients are likely to present with extrapulmonary manifestations of TB, mostly with TB meningitis and/or with disseminated disease.[1] Miliary TB in HIV-positive patients tends to be more subacute than chronic disease with a tendency to rapid progression.[2] If the disease is fulminant, patients often present with MOF,[3] [4] septic shock,[5] and ARDS.[6] The percentage of miliary TB in HIV-infected patients in one New York City hospital was 38% compared with 8% in non-HIV-infected patients.[7] [8] Patients with the lowest CD4 counts appear to have the highest risk for developing disseminated disease.[2]

ARDS in TB develops in approximately 1 to 2%, mortality ranges between 60 and 90%.[9] [10] Older data predict the mortality in patients with TB to be twice as high as in patients with respiratory failure of non-TB origin.[11]

Predictors of development and outcome of ARDS due to TB were found to be elevated liver enzymes, absolute lymphopenia, and a Horowitz index of below 108.5.[10] In another study, the factors predicting the mortality were reported to be MOF and consolidations on chest X-ray, both probably indicators of the severity of the disease.

ECMO as treatment of TB-induced ARDS is only mentioned in case reports.[12]

Modern ECMO support has lowered the mortality to 40% in selected patients; however, newly developed mortality prediction scores for patients with respiratory failure on ECMO emphasize the negative impact of immunosuppression on survival.[13] The etiology of the ARDS being TB in a patient with AIDS puts the estimated mortality close to 100%. In 2005, Guterman et al published a case report of non-TB pneumonia on ECMO in the context of newly diagnosed HIV infection and discussed this therapy as least controversial.[14]

In the light of these data, an interdisciplinary approach was needed. Our team decided on 72 hours of full supportive therapy and reevaluation thereafter. The improvement in the patient's condition at this time led to a continuation of the therapy, and, eventually, to a good outcome.

To our knowledge, this is the first description of a patient with a newly diagnosed advanced HIV disease, miliary TB, and MOF requiring an ECMO support who survived. Individual tailoring of therapy with a periodic reevaluation of the clinical situation is needed, given the poor initial prognosis, on one hand, and the expected costs, on the other hand. Even though the use of such extensive and expensive treatment can be questioned, this example encourages an aggressive approach in selected patients.

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