Hematologic Complications of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB) affects the production and life span of all hematologic cellular components. In addition, plasma coagulation factors may be affected, resulting in sometimes life-threatening complications. Iron, folate, and vitamin B-12 metabolism is derailed. The pharmacological agents used for TB therapy may also cause hematologic changes. There are some uncommon manifestations of TB in nontuberculous hematologic patients. There have been some exciting developments in the field of imaging to screen for TB, TB pathophysiology at the cellular level, and our understanding of immune response in TB. Advances have been made in pharmacologic therapeutic options, including discovery of new drugs in the fight against drug-resistant TB, bearing in mind their hematologic effects. This chapter reviews and updates known hematologic effects of TB and its therapy and some lesser known effects of TB in patients with nontuberculous hematologic conditions.