Miliary tuberculosis involving the central nervous system.

A woman with chronic systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was treated with prednisone, and developed an acute febrile neuroinfection. The magnetic resonance images (MRI) showed miliary micronodular lesions distributed diffusely within the central nervous system and lungs. Lumbar puncture showed pleocytosis with predominance of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, hypoglycorrhachia, elevated proteins and smears positive for acid-fast bacilli. The diagnosis was confirmed by culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the cerebrospinal fluid and bronchial biopsy tissue. She was treated with ethambutol, rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide. MRI taken one month later showed significant improvement, but leg weakness persisted. Epidemiologic research showed her uncle with cavitary tuberculosis as the source of infection. He was also treated with combined antituberculous chemotherapy.