Membranous Nephropathy Associated with Tuberculosis

To the Editor: Glomerulonephritis (GN) due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) is rare,[1] and membranous nephropathy (MN) associated with tuberculosis is seldom reported.[2] Because of atypical and nonspecific manifestations, tuberculosis-associated GN (TB-GN) is difficult to diagnose. Patients usually present with hematuria, proteinuria, edema, and varying degrees of hypertension or renal insufficiency, which are similar to symptoms of primary GN. Thus, patients may be misdiagnosed as having primary GN rather than TB-GN. Treatment with glucocorticoids or immunosuppressive agents may lead to the spread of TB and deterioration of renal function, a potentially life-threatening condition.