[Tuberculosis and the kidney]

There has been a recrudescence of tuberculosis, an ancient disease with recent control by public hygiene and drug therapy. Factors leading to the increased incidence of tuberculosis include the high incidence of tuberculosis among the AIDS population, and the emergence of drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis. In renal failure patients, there is impairment of several aspects of lymphocyte and granulocyte function. The incidence of tuberculosis has been estimated to be as much as 10-fold higher among renal failure patients than among the general population. The authors review the history of tuberculosis, the most significant clinical and pathological aspects, and practical diagnosis and treatment in renal tuberculosis and in renal failure.