Short Term Chemotherapy in Urinary Tuberculosis

Jung, Chung Sub; Moon, Woo Chul; Kim, Young Sun

Abstract

Recently short term chemotherapy has become popular for the treatment of genitourinary tuberculosis. But it is questionable weather short term chemotherapy can cure all cases of genitourinary tuberculosis regardless of their severity ;and the role of nephrectomy in patients with renal tuberculosis is still controversial. Herein we analyzed 52 patients with confirmed urinary tuberculosis who were treated with triple drugs, including isoniazid, rifampicin and ethambutol, for 6 to 9 months. The patients ranged from 13 to 71 years of age, and the male to female ratio was 2.4: 1. Follow up period ranged from 6 to 65 months with a mean period of 19.7 months. The patients were classified according to the severity of renal tuberculosis on pyelography into Group I ( minimal, 8 patients), II (moderate, 9 patients) and III (severe, 35 patients), and treatment result were analyzed in each group. Of 52 patients, 19 were treated by chemotherapy only and 33 (63.5%) reconstructive surgery. Success rates of short term chemotherapy in terms of cure of tuberculosis and preservation of functional renal tissue were :overall 75%, 100% in Group I , 77% in Group II and 68.6% in Group III. Two of 9 patients in Group II and 10 of 17 in Group III who were treated with chemotherapy only, deteriorated with loss of the kidney. Poor vascular pyonephrotic kidney and progressive ureteral stricture were suggested as the main cause of failure. Ureteroneocystostomy and double J enting were helpful not only in the preservation of the kidney but also in the rapid cure of a renal tuberculosis. 24 patients who were treated with 6 to 9 months chemotherapy after removal of their nonfunctioning kidney were relapse-free on follow up. In conclusion, 6 to 9 months chemotherapy is adequate minimal urinary tuberculosis. For the treatment of moderate to advanced urinary tuberculosis, a longer period of chemotherapy may be adequate, and meticulous follow up with IVP and aggressive management of ureteral stricture is essential. A far advanced, nonfunctioning, unilateral tuberculosis kidney is better to be removed early, followed by 6 to 9 months' chemotherapy.