RESUMEN
Between 1976 and 1994, 700 live-donor kidney transplants were carried out at our center. Among these, 28 recipients [4%] developed Tuberculosis 13-92 months [mean, 22.25] after transplantation. This study was conducted to find out the source[s] of infection entailing retrospective analysis of peri-operative data [for both recipients and their corresponding donors] as well as screening the donors with Ziehl- Neelsen [ZN] staining of their urine concentrate. Ten donated kidneys were found to be the source of infection which resulted in urinary TB in 7 recipients and disseminated infection in the remaining three. Treatment was initiated for both recipients and donors. Eight recipients developed chronic rejection. Ultimately, TB was controlled in 9 recipients while the last patient died of disseminated TB. Among the survivors, 4 had a functioning graft and the remaining 5 finally returned to dialysis, 3 of them died of unrelated causes. In all donors, TB infection was controlled. One donor required ballon dilatation for a stricture in the pelvic ureter of the remaining kidney. Donating a tuberculous kidney is hazardous to the immuno-compromized recipients as well as donors. Being a substantial source for post-transplantation TB, potential donors should be screened with ZN staining and PCR [polymerase chain reaction] of their urine concentrates