Korean J Med.  2002 Mar;62(3):297-301.

Acute renal failure due to bilateral pyelonephritis

• Kim BH
• Tak WT
• Choi YS
• Cho JT
• Yoon SC

Abstract

Acute renal failure is a rare complication of acute pyelonephritis. Therefore, acute pyelonephritis is not usually considered in the differential diagnosis of acute renal failure. However, it is important to consider this entity because of potential for recovery of renal function if appropriate early antibiotics are instituted. We report a case of biopsy proven acute pyelonephritis which was manifested as acute renal failure. A 38 year old women was admitted to this hospital owing to abdominal distension and generalized edema. On admission she was started on hemodialysis because of severe hyperkalemia and marked uremic sypmtoms. She had pyuria and hematuria, but no organism was isolated at urine. We initially don't know the cause of renal failure. She was improved with antimicrobial therapy and hemodialysis. A kidney biopsy was performed on the 26th hospital day because of persistent proteinuria. Microscopic examination revealed focal tubular atrophy, necrosis or loss with heavy infilteration of leukocytes and histocytes in interstitium. Atrophic tubules contain pus casts. The patient was treated with ciprofloxacin for 4 weeks. At about 2 month follow up, proteinuria completely disappeared and serum creatinine level decreased to 1.0 mg/dL.

Keyword

Pyelonephritis; Kidney failure; Acute

MeSH Terms

Acute Kidney Injury*
Adult
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Atrophy
Biopsy
Ciprofloxacin
Creatinine
Diagnosis, Differential
Edema
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Hematuria
Humans
Hyperkalemia
Kidney
Leukocytes
Necrosis
Proteinuria
Pyelonephritis*
Pyuria
Renal Dialysis
Renal Insufficiency
Suppuration
Anti-Bacterial Agents
Ciprofloxacin
Creatinine