Genito-urinary tuberculosis in Glasgow 1970 to 1979: a review of 230 patients

Two hundred and thirty patients with genito-urinary tuberculosis presenting between 1970 and 1979 were reviewed. In 22 per cent there was a history of previous tuberculosis and a family history in 14 per cent. Night sweats and weight loss were uncommon. The mean duration of medical treatment was 17 months. Surgery was necessary in 49 per cent of patients but reconstructive procedures were only performed in 7 per cent of cases. The mean follow-up period after diagnosis was 46 months. Patients with initial renal calcification were followed-up for a similar time to those with no calcification. Complications during follow-up were no more common in those with initial renal calcification than in those without this feature. With the exception of 1971 and 1972, there was a steady incidence of 20 or so new cases of genito-urinary tuberculosis per year in Glasgow.