Gross Hematuria Is More Common in Male and Older Patients with Renal Tuberculosis in China: A Single-Center 15-Year Clinical Experience.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the clinical features of renal tuberculosis and identify the age- and gender-related differences.

METHODS: A total of 419 patients at the Peking University First Hospital from January 2000 to July 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Data on demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, complications, laboratory results, radiologic imaging, surgical procedures, and pathology features were collected and compared between genders and 3 different age groups (under 40 years, 41-60, years and over 60 years).

RESULTS: The most common local presentations were lower urinary tract symptoms (65.2%), flank pain (37.9%), and gross hematuria (26.3%). Constitutional symptoms were also observed in 38.9% of the patients. Gross hematuria was more common in male patients (32.2%) and older patients (45.5%). Flank pain was more common in female patients (43.6%). Patients younger than 40 years of age had lower frequencies of calcification of the urinary tract (22.2%) and kidney atrophy (4.2%) in CT. In the postoperative pathological reports, atrophy (35.9%) and fibrosis (38.5%) were found to be significantly more common in older patients.

CONCLUSIONS: While gross hematuria is more prevalent in older patients and male patients, flank pain is more common in female patients. Radiological and pathological features including calcification of the urinary tract, fibrosis, and kidney atrophy are more common in older patients.