Suspected Tuberculous Pleurisy and Coronavirus Disease 2019 Comorbidity

• Published in: Internal Medicine Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. 913 - 916
• Main Authors: Yamaguchi, Yoh, Hashimoto, Masao, Saito, Susumu, Morita, Tie, Tsukada, Akinari, Kusaba, Yusaku, Katsuno, Takashi, Suzuki, Manabu, Takasaki, Jin, Izumi, Shinyu, Matsunaga, Akihiro, Ishizaka, Yukihito, Hojo, Masayuki, Sugiyama, Haruhito
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine 15.03.2022; Japan Science and Technology Agency
• Subjects: Adenosine; Adenosine deaminase; Adenosine Deaminase - analysis; Adult; Case Report; Comorbidity; Coronaviruses; Cough; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; Female; Fever; Humans; Immunoglobulin G; Internal medicine; Pharyngitis; Pleural effusion; Pleural Effusion - diagnosis; Pleural fluid; Pleurisy; Polymerase chain reaction; Public health; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis, Pleural - diagnosis; tuberculous pleurisy; COVID-19; tuberculous pleurisy; SARS-CoV-2
• ISSN: 0918-2918; 1349-7235; 1349-7235
• DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6920-21

A 33-year-old woman with a fever, cough, and pharyngitis was admitted after left-sided pleural effusion was detected. The fever and upper respiratory symptoms were confirmed, and she was diagnosed with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after showing a positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. After thoracentesis, pleural fluid revealed elevated adenosine deaminase values and a positive QuantiFeron test; tuberculous pleurisy was thus suspected. Subsequent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR and anti-SARS-CoV-2 Spike IgG tests were negative, suggesting that the initial PCR result had been erroneous. However, we were unable to confirm this. Data concerning COVID-19 diagnostics are insufficient at present. It is important to make comprehensive judgments regarding the diagnosis and treatment of patients as well as public health.