Development of contralateral pleural effusion during chemotherapy for tuberculous pleurisy

Abstract

Paradoxical worsening of tuberculous lesions, despite effective chemotherapy, has been reported in intracranial tuberculomas, lymph nodes, pulmonary disease, and tuberculous pleurisy. However, development of contralateral pleural effusion during treatment of tuberculous pleurisy is very rare. We report the case of a 22 year old female patient who presented with right sided pleural effusion and was treated with antituberculous drugs. Four weeks later although her right sided pleural effusion was subsiding she developed a left sided pleural effusion. Closed pleural biopsy on the left side showed granulomatous inflammation with early caseation. Antituberculous drugs were continued and a short course of oral prednisolone was added. She recovered completely and her chest x-ray became normal after finishing her treatment.