The risk of tuberculosis (TB) is significantly increased in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Data on TB in CKD in the UK are sparse; most information stems from countries with high background prevalence. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of TB in CKD patients in South East London and to describe the epidemiology, treatment, and outcome. CKD patients with TB between 1994 and 2010 were identified retrospectively. Data were collected on type of renal replacement therapy, the method of TB diagnosis, disease site, treatment regimens, and risk factors. Forty patients were identified of whom 67.5% had CKD stages IV-V. Sixty-five percent were from non-UK born ethnic minorities. Median time from diagnosis of CKD to TB development was 12 months (range 0-192 months). Cumulative incidence of TB was 1267/100,000 [95% confidence interval (CI): 630-1904; 85 × background UK rate] in hemodialysis patients; 398/100,000 (95% CI: 80-1160; 26 × background UK rate) in peritoneal dialysis; and 522/100,000 (CI: 137-909; 35 × background UK rate) in transplant recipients. Sixty-three percent of patients had pulmonary TB and 25% of patients with culture-positive TB had resistant isolates. Fifty percent of patients were immunosuppressed due to drugs, diabetes, and/or retroviral disease. Treatment regimens were according to recent national guidance in 73% of cases. Seventy-six percent of patients experienced side effects. Greater awareness of risk factors, drug resistance, treatment regimens, and potential side effects is needed.
Keywords: Tuberculosis; epidemiology; immunosuppression; renal disease.