Evaluation of Renal Functions in Patients with Genitourinary System Tuberculosis Involving the Kidney/Ureter: Single...

Genitourinary Tuberculosis (GU-TB) is one of the most common types of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This study aims to evaluate changes in renal function in patients diagnosed with GU-TB at our clinic after a 12-month follow-up.

Patients aged 18 to 70 years treated between 2015 and 2021 were included in this study. Exclusion criteria were a prior history of GU-TB, other etiological factors affecting renal function, ureter-kidney involvement, and incomplete follow-up or treatment. Demographic and clinical data, the need for urinary diversion, types of diversions performed, most common symptoms, and renal functions at diagnosis, the 3^rd month, and the 12^th month were compared.

A total of 34 patients were included in the study. The most common symptom was urgency (70%). Urinary diversion was necessary for 22 patients (64.7%). Kidney function evaluation revealed that the glomerular filtration rate, initially 53.9±24.8, increased to 63.5±19.1 after treatment (p<0.001).

In patients with GU-TB involving the kidneys and ureters, appropriate diversion methods and treatment may lead to some improvement in renal function. However, it should be noted that patients with GU-TB constitute an extremely heterogeneous group, and symptoms and clinical findings may vary depending on the selected patient group.