Nutritional deficit in miliary tuberculosis:prognostic value.

Under 4-point Nutritional Risk Score, KIM et al. [1] have used severe lymphocytopenia and hypocholesterolaemia as the parameters of poor nutritional status. MTB is characterised by compartmentalisation of lymphocytes at the site of inflammation (lymphocytic alveolitis), leading to their reduced number in peripheral blood [2]. Moreover, total lymphocyte count has not been found to be a suitable marker of malnutrition in the elderly [3]. In addition, keeping the varied presentations and leukocyte counts in MTB in mind, use of severe lymphocytopenia as a parameter does not seem justified.