Hepatic tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus co-infected adults: a case series of South African adults

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) cause a high rate of morbidity and mortality worldwide [1]. Approximately 1.2 million HIV-infected people developed active TB infection worldwide in 2014, of which 74% were in sub-Saharan Africa [2]. In South Africa, more than 50% of TB cases have HIV co-infection with the risk being greater at lower CD4 cell counts [2, 3].

Although TB most commonly causes a pulmonary infection, patients with advanced immunosuppression are at greater risk of developing extrapulmonary infection [3]. One manifestation of extrapulmonary TB is hepatic TB, and the characteristics of HIV-associated hepatic TB have not been fully described. In the pre-HIV era a South African study reported a 9.2% prevalence of hepatic TB among inpatients with unexplained hepatomegaly [4].

Hepatic TB can occur as a localized primary infection or by dissemination of a pulmonary infection, known as miliary hepatic TB [5]. Local hepatic TB occurs when ingested TB bacilli cross the gastrointestinal mucosal barrier to reach the liver via the portal vein [6]. Disseminated disease via the hepatic artery is more common, and results in multiple small tubercles in the liver [6].

The clinical, laboratory and radiologic features of hepatic TB are non-specific [4, 7‐12]. Some patients have liver enzyme abnormalities which may worsen during the first few months of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) [13]. Since liver enzyme abnormalities are varied and causes may include opportunistic infections, malignancy, HIV cholangiopathy, drug-induced liver injury, viral hepatitis, hepatic steatosis and immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS), the diagnosis of hepatic TB is challenging and requires a high index of suspicion [14, 15].

A better understanding of the clinical presentation, biochemical abnormalities, immunological characteristics, radiographic features, microbiologic findings, histopathologic findings, and response to treatment of hepatic tuberculosis will assist in a rational approach to the interpretation of liver enzyme abnormalities in the HIV-infected patient. We therefore sought to describe hepatic TB among HIV-infected patients receiving care at a tertiary level hospital in Durban, South Africa.

We characterized the clinical and histopathologic features, as well as the response to treatment of hepatic TB in HIV co-infected patients. In our case series, hepatic TB occurred mostly in persons with severe immunosuppression [14, 15, 22]. The age distribution in this series closely matched that of HIV infection, due to the close association between extra-pulmonary TB and HIV [8, 22]. The clinical features of hepatic TB in our study were similar to those reported from HIV-uninfected case series [4, 7, 9]. A notable exception was that two thirds of our patients had generalized lymphadenopathy, which could be a manifestation of TB disease or reactive adenopathy characteristic of HIV infection [23].

Consistent with the findings of others, hepatic TB caused a disproportionate elevation of the biliary canalicular enzymes, likely reflecting an infiltrative pattern by granulomatous inflammation [7‐9, 14, 15, 24, 25]. The low serum albumin should not be interpreted as a marker of hepatocellular synthetic dysfunction since it is influenced by multiple factors such as malnutrition, chronic infection, chronic inflammation and HIV-associated nephropathy [7, 8, 14, 26]. Coagulation studies are a more reliable marker of hepatic function, however these were normal in our case series which may imply that granulomatous inflammation does not interfere with hepatocellular function [24].

Eighty five percent (85%) of our case series had features of pulmonary tuberculosis suggesting that hepatic involvement was probably secondary to dissemination from the lung. However only two chest radiographs showed the typical pattern of TB lung involvement, a finding consistent with the severity of the underlying immunodeficiency [1, 27]. Microbiology of liver tissue demonstrated poor sensitivity in confirming a diagnosis of hepatic TB [15, 22]. Prior exposure to anti-TB therapy might have played a role, and the unreliability of microbiology was well recognized in the pre-HIV era [4, 7, 9, 11].

The histologic findings of hepatic TB include epithelioid granuloma, often with caseation and non-specific reactive hepatitis [28]. In advanced HIV disease, granuloma formation in response to mycobacterial infection is poor and may be associated with increased bacillary presence [15, 25, 29]. Hepatic TB granuloma formation has been well described in severe HIV disease upon commencement of ART, as a manifestation of IRIS [22]. In this study, the histologic findings showed varying degrees of granulomatous inflammation with no relationship between the CD4 cell count and the presence or absence of granulomatous inflammation. Most of the patients in this study were not receiving ART, suggesting that a granulomatous response was possible despite a poorly functioning immune system. Although a hepatic granulomatous response may be associated with IRIS we were not able to draw any conclusions from our predominantly ART-naïve case series [22].

Due to concerns of exposing patients with unexplained liver enzyme abnormalities to potentially hepatotoxic drugs, 15 of the 20 (75%) patients were not commenced on ART despite clear indication and a further 2 (10%) on ART had their ART discontinued. Such treatment delays or interruptions could result in serious consequences. Thus it is important to recognize that the described liver enzyme abnormalities, in the context of TB at other sites, is possibly indicative of hepatic TB and should not unnecessarily delay ART.

Optimal duration of anti-TB therapy for hepatic involvement remains unclear [15] and changes in liver enzyme abnormalities may be used to monitor response to anti-TB therapy. Based on trends of liver enzyme changes available for twelve patients, liver enzyme levels should normalize in most patients within six months of anti-TB therapy. However, it is unclear if one should use normalization of the liver enzyme abnormalities to determine when to discontinue treatment. Literature shows that there may be up to 30% variability of liver enzymes due to patient factors [30] and in some of our patients, enzyme abnormalities resolved several months after cessation of anti-TB therapy.

The treatment success rate in our case series was lower than that reported for sub-Saharan Africa [2]. Advanced immunosuppression may have contributed to the high mortality rate, consistent with other TB studies [3].

Our study does have some limitations. Patients described in our study were all managed in an Infectious Diseases Unit at King Edward VIII hospital, which is a tertiary level institute. Hence, it is likely that many patients with possible hepatic TB were managed empirically, based on evidence of TB in other organ systems, at the peripheral health care facility. Therefore, this case series represents a more select group with a particularly high suspicion of hepatic TB. Furthermore, patterns of liver enzyme abnormalities might have biased patient selection for liver biopsy.

Like any retrospective case series study design, we cannot draw any conclusions regarding incidence or prevalence of disease [31]. However, our observations highlight when one should be suspicious of hepatic TB and offers guidance on monitoring response of hepatic TB to anti-TB therapy.

Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for hepatic TB, especially among HIV-infected patients with elevated liver enzymes and evidence of TB in other organ systems. The presence of unexplained hepatomegaly and preserved liver synthetic function are additional supportive features. Such enzyme abnormalities should not delay the initiation of ART. Granulomatous reactions are a common histopathologic finding even in advanced HIV disease and microbiology of liver tissue has a role in the diagnosis of hepatic TB. Evolution of liver enzyme abnormalities in response to anti-TB therapy might serve as a useful monitoring tool but the decision to discontinue anti-TB therapy should not depend on normalization of liver enzymes since this may take several months to occur.