Introduction
According to Losada et al. [1], polyserositis is an inflammation of
several serous membranes, such as the pleura, pericardium, and
peritoneum, which causes a buildup of exudates in these body cavities.
The causes of polyserositis are numerous. According to a systemic review
which included 114 patients, the most frequent causes of polyserositis
were neoplasia (30; 26.3%), autoimmune disorders (19; 16.7%), and
infections (16; 12.2%), [2]. Polyserositis, a rare presentation of
disseminated tuberculosis, may delay diagnosis of tuberculosis [3].
Hypothyroidism and tuberculosis (TB) are correlated in both directions.
Patients with hypothyroidism have a roughly 3-fold increased risk of
developing tuberculosis (TB) compared to those without hypothyroidism,
and those already suffering from TB have a 2-fold increased risk of
developing hypothyroidism [4]. Chemotaxis, phagocytosis, the
generation of reactive oxygen species, and the release of cytokines are
just a few of the immune system processes that thyroid hormones regulate
[5]. Hypothyroidism may have a negative impact on the immune system,
and recent research has demonstrated that thyroid hormone signaling is
crucial for an effective immunological response to TB infection [6].
We report a rare case of polyserositis due to tuberculosis, involving
pleura, pericardium and peritoneum in a young female patient
concomitantly diagnosed to have primary hypothyroidism.