Tuberculosis in renal transplant recipients: Our decade long experience with an opportunistic invader

To study the incidence, pattern of tuberculosis, Its risk factors, and prognosis in renal transplantation recipients in Indian population.

This study retrospectively analyzed the patients who underwent renal transplantation at Ramaiah medical college Hospitals, India from 2004 to 2015.

The study enrolled 244 patients. Diagnosis was based on radio0imaging, sputum smear, culture and polymerase chainreaction and histology.

A descriptive univariate analysis was performed to identify the individual risk factors.

The TB infection was present in 21/244 (8.6%) renal transplantation patients (mean age ± SD = 44.3 ± 12.9 years). Pulmonary tuberculosis was the commonest (57%) followed by extrapulmonary tuberculosis (43%). Type II diabetes mellitus (DM) (14.6%; p = 0.0169)was significant risk factor. Majority of the patients (n = 18, 10.7%) were on standard tripledrug immunosuppression. The median duration of anti0tubercular therapy was 14 months and crude mortality was 19%.

High index of suspicion for tuberculosis is require d in renal transplant recipients owing to their immunocompromised status and atypical presentations. Higher age, DM and use of immunosuppressants increase the risk for post0renal transplantation tuberculosis. Interactions between anti0tubercular drugs and immunosuppressants need to be considered in these patients.