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

Objective: 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. Materials and Methods: 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 3rd month, and the 12th month were compared. Results: 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). Conclusion: 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.