To evaluate differences in anti-tuberculous glycolipid (TBGL) antibody titers in patients who developed tuberculosis (TB) with and without gastrectomy, 11 gastrectomised patients who developed TB after surgery (GS-TB), 19 TB patients without any other complications (TB), 12 gastrectomised patients who did not develop TB after surgery (GS) and 27 healthy subjects (H) with normal findings on chest X-ray were evaluated, although there were no differences in the clinical findings at admission between the TB and GS-TB groups. The assay used here allowed us to find low anti-TBGL antibody titers in GS-TB patients. © 2005 The Union.