A 20-Year Single-Centre Experience on Urogenital Tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Urology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Urogenital tuberculosis (UGTb) is the second most common form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
• Evaluating the long-term clinical consequences of UGTb is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the clinical outcomes and long-term consequences of urogenital tuberculosis.
• To identify risk factors and patterns of organ involvement in UGTb.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 46 patients diagnosed with UGTb via microbiological methods from 2001 to 2021.
• Analysis of clinical, demographic, and surgical data, with a focus on long-term follow-up outcomes.

Main Results:

• The kidney was the most affected organ, followed by the ureter, bladder, and testis/epididymis.
• Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) and bladder involvement were more common in elderly patients (≥60 years).
• Long-term follow-up revealed ongoing LUTS, chronic kidney disease, end-stage renal disease, and azoospermia in a subset of patients.

Conclusions:

• UGTb can lead to upper urinary tract damage, renal function deterioration, LUTS, and infertility, significantly impacting quality of life.
• Elderly patients are more susceptible to bladder involvement.
• Approximately 24% of UGTb patients required surgical intervention during their disease course.