Genitourinary tuberculosis in Spain: review of 81 cases

Cases of genitourinary tuberculosis diagnosed at the Hospital Clínico Universitario between January 1978 and December 1989 were studied. Genitourinary tuberculosis was the most frequent type of extrapulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed, accounting for 81 (40.9%) of 198 cases. Fifty-one patients (63%) were men. The mean ages of male and female patients were 48.4 years and 51.1 years, respectively (range, 21-75 years). Cases were widely distributed among most age groups; patients were most often 30-69 years of age. Constitutional symptoms were less frequent than local, urinary tract-related symptoms. Only 23.5% of patients had a known history of tuberculosis. Pyuria plus hematuria with sterile cultures was the commonest urinary finding. The results of intravenous pyelography were abnormal in 95% of cases. Ziehl-Neelsen staining gave positive results in 48% of cases. Cultures became positive after a mean (ISD) of 2.3 +/- 1.5 weeks. Sequelae were documented in 42% of cases, but only one death due to genitourinary tuberculosis was recorded.