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Tuberculosis in dialysis patients
Clinical Nephrology
|January 1, 1982
Summary
Patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis show a tenfold higher incidence of tuberculosis. Risk factors include age, race, and immigrant status, with symptoms often mimicking renal disease.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on dialysis may have altered immune function, increasing susceptibility to infections.
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health concern, and its incidence in vulnerable populations requires careful monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the incidence and clinical characteristics of active tuberculosis (TB) in a large Canadian dialysis population.
- To identify potential risk factors and diagnostic challenges associated with TB in ESRD patients.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of data from a large Canadian dialysis unit over a 13-year period.
- Analysis of 433 dialysis patients, identifying seven cases of active TB.
Main Results:
- A greater than tenfold increase in TB incidence was observed in dialysis patients compared to the general population.
- Risk factors identified included being over 40 years of age, race, and immigrant status.
- Tuberculin skin tests were largely unhelpful; symptoms often mimicked underlying chronic renal disease; 3 of 7 patients had extrapulmonary TB.
Conclusions:
- ESRD patients on dialysis have a significantly elevated risk of developing tuberculosis.
- Clinical presentation can be atypical, complicating diagnosis; early recognition and treatment are crucial.
- Findings support previous international observations regarding TB in dialysis populations.