Conservative management of renal tuberculosis.

The conservative management of 60 patients suffering from renal tuberculosis is reported. Following chemotherapy, bacteriological conversion to negative was obtained in all patients. 2 patients (3-3%) relapsed due to failure to take adequate treatment. Evidence of ureteric obstruction was obtained in 30 patients (50%)--23 at the time of diagnosis, 6 during treatment and 1 at the time of relapse. Following corticosteroid treatment relief of obstruction was obtained in 72%. Nephrectomy was carried out in 4 patients (6-7%) but in only 1 of these was the operation carried out for reasons which we now consider valid.