eMedicine Specialties > Nephrology > Tubulointerstitial Diseases of the Kidney

Nephritis, Interstitial: Multimedia

Author: A Brent Alper Jr, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 11, 2009

Multimedia

Kidney biopsy. This is an example of acute inters...Media file 1: Kidney biopsy. This is an example of acute interstitial nephritis. The renal cortex shows a diffuse interstitial, predominantly mononuclear, inflammatory infiltrate with no changes to the glomerulus. Tubules in the center of the field are separated by inflammation and edema, as compared with the more normal architecture in the right lower area (periodic acid-Schiff, 40 X).
Kidney biopsy. This is an example of acute inters...

Kidney biopsy. This is an example of acute interstitial nephritis. The renal cortex shows a diffuse interstitial, predominantly mononuclear, inflammatory infiltrate with no changes to the glomerulus. Tubules in the center of the field are separated by inflammation and edema, as compared with the more normal architecture in the right lower area (periodic acid-Schiff, 40 X).

Kidney biopsy. Shown here is an example of acute ...Media file 2: Kidney biopsy. Shown here is an example of acute interstitial nephritis. The diagnosis is based on the active inflammatory infiltrate on the right with unaffected glomeruli. Interstitial edema and fibrosis are present on the left side of the field, where some tubules show thickened basement membrane (hematoxylin and eosin, 20 X).
Kidney biopsy. Shown here is an example of acute ...

Kidney biopsy. Shown here is an example of acute interstitial nephritis. The diagnosis is based on the active inflammatory infiltrate on the right with unaffected glomeruli. Interstitial edema and fibrosis are present on the left side of the field, where some tubules show thickened basement membrane (hematoxylin and eosin, 20 X).

Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitia...Media file 3: Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitial nephritis. The interstitium is expanded by mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and edema. Acute tubular damage is present; some tubules are distended and contain granular casts (hematoxylin and eosin, 40 X).
Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitia...

Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitial nephritis. The interstitium is expanded by mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and edema. Acute tubular damage is present; some tubules are distended and contain granular casts (hematoxylin and eosin, 40 X).

Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. Acute cr...Media file 4: Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. Acute crescentic glomerulonephritis. The glomerular tuft is compressed by the proliferation of epithelial cells, forming a crescent. The interstitium shows mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and edema (periodic acid-Schiff, 40 X).
Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. Acute cr...

Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. Acute crescentic glomerulonephritis. The glomerular tuft is compressed by the proliferation of epithelial cells, forming a crescent. The interstitium shows mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate and edema (periodic acid-Schiff, 40 X).

Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitia...Media file 5: Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitial nephritis. The mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate contains abundant eosinophils, suggesting an allergic etiology. Severe tubular damage is observed (hematoxylin and eosin, 40 X).
Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitia...

Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitial nephritis. The mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate contains abundant eosinophils, suggesting an allergic etiology. Severe tubular damage is observed (hematoxylin and eosin, 40 X).

Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitia...Media file 6: Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitial nephritis. The inflammatory infiltrate forms an ill-defined granuloma, suggesting allergic or infectious etiologies. A partially destroyed tubule is present (periodic acid-Schiff, 40 X).
Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitia...

Kidney biopsy. This image shows acute interstitial nephritis. The inflammatory infiltrate forms an ill-defined granuloma, suggesting allergic or infectious etiologies. A partially destroyed tubule is present (periodic acid-Schiff, 40 X).

Kidney biopsy. This image shows chronic tubuloint...Media file 7: Kidney biopsy. This image shows chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis. The interstitium is expanded by fibrosis, with distortion of tubules and periglomerular fibrosis. Glomeruli do not show pathologic changes (hematoxylin and eosin, 20 X).
Kidney biopsy. This image shows chronic tubuloint...

Kidney biopsy. This image shows chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis. The interstitium is expanded by fibrosis, with distortion of tubules and periglomerular fibrosis. Glomeruli do not show pathologic changes (hematoxylin and eosin, 20 X).

Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This ima...Media file 8: Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This image shows a cholesterol microembolism. The 2 arterioles in the center are occluded by elongated crystals (hematoxylin and eosin, 20 X).
Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This ima...

Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This image shows a cholesterol microembolism. The 2 arterioles in the center are occluded by elongated crystals (hematoxylin and eosin, 20 X).

Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This ima...Media file 9: Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This image shows a cholesterol microembolism. The arteriole in the center of the field has a thickened wall. The lumen is occluded by elongated spaces, corresponding to dissolved crystals surrounded by cellular reaction. The 2 glomeruli flanking the arteriole are sclerotic and hardly recognizable (hematoxylin and eosin, 40 X).
Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This ima...

Kidney biopsy in interstitial nephritis. This image shows a cholesterol microembolism. The arteriole in the center of the field has a thickened wall. The lumen is occluded by elongated spaces, corresponding to dissolved crystals surrounded by cellular reaction. The 2 glomeruli flanking the arteriole are sclerotic and hardly recognizable (hematoxylin and eosin, 40 X).

More on Nephritis, Interstitial

Overview: Nephritis, Interstitial
Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Nephritis, Interstitial
Treatment & Medication: Nephritis, Interstitial
Follow-up: Nephritis, Interstitial
Multimedia: Nephritis, Interstitial
References
Further Reading

References

  1. De Broe ME, Elseviers MM. Over-the-counter analgesic use. J Am Soc Nephrol. May 7 2009;[Medline].

  2. Maripuri S, Grande JP, Osborn TG, et al. Renal involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a clinicopathologic study. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. Sep 2009;4(9):1423-31. [Medline].

  3. Slade N, Moll UM, Brdar B, et al. p53 mutations as fingerprints for aristolochic acid: an environmental carcinogen in endemic (Balkan) nephropathy. Mutat Res. Apr 26 2009;663(1-2):1-6. [Medline].

  4. Karmaus W, Dimitrov P, Simeonov V, et al. Offspring of parents with Balkan Endemic Nephropathy have higher C-reactive protein levels suggestive of inflammatory processes: a longitudinal study. BMC Nephrol. Apr 28 2009;10:10. [Medline][Full Text].

  5. Mackensen F, Billing H. Tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome. Curr Opin Ophthalmol. Sep 11 2009;[Medline].

  6. Lin JL, Lin-Tan DT, Hsu KH, Yu CC. Environmental lead exposure and progression of chronic renal diseases in patients without diabetes. N Engl J Med. Jan 23 2003;348(4):277-86. [Medline].

  7. Lin JL, Lin-Tan DT, Yu CC, Li YJ, Huang YY, Li KL. Environmental exposure to lead and progressive diabetic nephropathy in patients with type II diabetes. Kidney Int. Jun 2006;69(11):2049-56. [Medline].

  8. Abbate M, Remuzzi G. Proteinuria as a mediator of tubulointerstitial injury. Kidney Blood Press Res. 1999;22(1-2):37-46. [Medline].

  9. Alexopoulos E. Drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis. Ren Fail. Nov 1998;20(6):809-19. [Medline].

  10. Batuman V. Lead nephropathy, gout, and hypertension. Am J Med Sci. Apr 1993;305(4):241-7. [Medline].

  11. Batuman V. Possible pathogenetic role of low-molecular-weight proteins in Balkan nephropathy. Kidney Int Suppl. Nov 1991;34:S89-92. [Medline].

  12. Batuman V, Verroust PJ, Navar GL, Kaysen JH, Goda FO, Campbell WC, et al. Myeloma light chains are ligands for cubilin (gp280). Am J Physiol. Aug 1998;275(2 Pt 2):F246-54. [Medline].

  13. Becker GJ, Hewitson TD. The role of tubulointerstitial injury in chronic renal failure. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens. Mar 2000;9(2):133-8. [Medline].

  14. Bennett WM, Porter GA. Analgesic nephropathy and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in renal patients: new insight. J Nephrol. Mar-Apr 1998;11(2):70-5. [Medline].

  15. Border WA, Holbrook JH, Peterson MC. Gallium citrate Ga 67 scanning in acute renal failure. West J Med. May 1995;162(5):477-8. [Medline].

  16. Cruz DN, Perazella MA. Drug-induced acute tubulointerstitial nephritis: the clinical spectrum. Hosp Pract (Minneap). Feb 15 1998;33(2):151-2, 157-8, 161-4. [Medline].

  17. Cushner HM, Copley JB, Bauman J, Hill SC. Acute interstitial nephritis associated with mezlocillin, nafcillin, and gentamicin treatment for Pseudomonas infection. Arch Intern Med. Jul 1985;145(7):1204-7. [Medline].

  18. Elseviers MM, De Broe ME. A long-term prospective controlled study of analgesic abuse in Belgium. Kidney Int. Dec 1995;48(6):1912-9. [Medline].

  19. Hall PW 3d, Dammin GJ. Balkan nephropathy. Nephron. 1978;22(4-6):281-300. [Medline].

  20. Harris RC, Neilson EG. Toward a unified theory of renal progression. Annu Rev Med. 2006;57:365-80. [Medline].

  21. Kleinknecht D. Interstitial nephritis, the nephrotic syndrome, and chronic renal failure secondary to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Semin Nephrol. May 1995;15(3):228-35. [Medline].

  22. Linton AL, Richmond JM, Clark WF, Lindsay RM, Driedger AA, Lamki LM. Gallium67 scintigraphy in the diagnosis of acute renal disease. Clin Nephrol. Aug 1985;24(2):84-7. [Medline].

  23. Liu Y. Renal fibrosis: new insights into the pathogenesis and therapeutics. Kidney Int. Jan 2006;69(2):213-7. [Full Text].

  24. Markowitz GS, Radhakrishnan J, Kambham N, Valeri AM, Hines WH, D'Agati VD. Lithium nephrotoxicity: a progressive combined glomerular and tubulointerstitial nephropathy. J Am Soc Nephrol. Aug 2000;11(8):1439-48. [Medline].

  25. Puschett JB, Batuman V. Hypertension and the kidney. In: Cardiovascular Risk Factors. New York, NY: Gower Medical Pub; 1997:7-16.

  26. Rangan GK, Wang Y, Tay YC, Harris DC. Inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB activation reduces cortical tubulointerstitial injury in proteinuric rats. Kidney Int. Jul 1999;56(1):118-34. [Medline].

  27. Whelton A. Nephrotoxicity of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: physiologic foundations and clinical implications. Am J Med. May 31 1999;106(5B):13S-24S. [Medline].

  28. Zarifian A, Meleg-Smith S, O'Donovan R, Tesi RJ, Batuman V. Cyclosporine-associated thrombotic microangiopathy in renal allografts. Kidney Int. Jun 1999;55(6):2457-66. [Medline].

Further Reading

Related eMedicine topics:
Acute Renal Failure
Alport Syndrome [Nephrology]
Alport Syndrome [Pediatrics: General Medicine]
Goodpasture Syndrome [Nephrology]
Goodpasture Syndrome [Pediatrics: General Medicine]
Hypersensitivity Nephropathy
Lead Nephropathy
Nephritis
Nephritis, Lupus
Papillary Necrosis [Radiology]
Papillary Necrosis [Urology]
Renal Failure, Acute

Clinical guidelines:
ACR Appropriateness Criteria® renal failure. American College of Radiology - Medical Specialty Society. 1995 (revised 2008). 10 pages. NGC:007019

K/DOQI clinical practice guidelines on hypertension and antihypertensive agents in chronic kidney disease. National Kidney Foundation - Disease Specific Society. 2004 May. 290 pages. NGC:003985

Clinical trials:
Abatacept and Cyclophosphamide Combination Therapy for Lupus Nephritis (ACCESS)

Etanercept for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis

Immune System Related Kidney Disease

Study of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Keywords

interstitial nephritis, nephritis, kidney disease, obstructive uropathy, acute interstitial nephritis, nephritis lupus, analgesic nephropathy, end-stage renal disease, tubulointerstitial diseases, tubulointerstitial nephritis, acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, lithium nephropathy, cyclosporine-induced nephropathy, tacrolimus-induced nephropathy, lead nephropathy, atherosclerotic kidney disease, cholesterol microembolic disease, Balkan endemic nephropathy, Chinese herb nephropathy

Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

A Brent Alper Jr, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine
A Brent Alper Jr, MD, MPH is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, and Phi Beta Kappa
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

F John Gennari, MD, Associate Chair for Academic Affairs, Robert F and Genevieve B Patrick Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Vermont College of Medicine
F John Gennari, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Federation for Medical Research, American Heart Association, American Physiological Society, American Society for Clinical Investigation, American Society of Nephrology, and International Society of Nephrology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Managing Editor

Ajay K Singh, MB, MRCP, MBA, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Clinical Chief, Renal Division, Director of Dialysis, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Consulting Staff, Faulkner Hospital
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Rebecca J Schmidt, DO, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine, Section Chief, Department of Medicine, Section of Nephrology, West Virginia University School of Medicine
Rebecca J Schmidt, DO, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Osteopathic Internists, American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Nephrology, International Society of Nephrology, National Kidney Foundation, Renal Physicians Association, and West Virginia State Medical Association
Disclosure: Abbott Grant/research funds Speaking and teaching; Genzyme Honoraria Consulting; Amgen Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Ortho Biotech Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN, Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension, Tulane University School of Medicine; Chief, Medicine Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System
Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, and International Society of Nephrology
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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