Diffuse interstitial renal tuberculosis--an unusual cause of renal failure

Three immigrant patients are described with diffuse interstitial renal tuberculosis. Two had associated pulmonary tuberculosis and the third had tuberculous peritonitis. Excretion urography gave no clue to the diagnosis. At the time of diagnosis by renal biopsy two patients had severe chronic renal failure. In one, renal impairment had progressed during the course of anti-tuberculous treatment. The third patient showed marked fluctuations in renal function, and improvement appeared to relate to concomitant corticosteroid therapy. The importance of this particular form of renal tuberculosis has not previously been emphasized.