Life Science Encyclopedia

The Tygerberg score is a clinical decision tool that allows the clinician to decide whether pericarditis is due to tuberculosis or not. It uses five variables:

1. Weight loss (1 point)
2. Night sweats (1 point)
3. Fever (2 points)
4. Serum globulin >40 g/l (3 points)
5. Blood leukocyte count <10 × 10⁹/l

A total score of 6 or more is highly suggestive that tuberculosis is the cause of the pericarditis.

References

• Reuter H, Burgess L, van Vuuren W, Doubell A. (2006). "Diagnosing tuberculous pericarditis". Q J Med 99: 827–39. PMID 17121764.