Radiology, Vol 127, 367-371, Copyright © 1978 by Radiological Society of North America
Late sequelae of adult-onset acute bacterial nephritis
AJ Davidson and LB Talner
The late manifestations of adult-onset acute bacterial nephritis were
studied in four patients from 4 months to 5.6 years following initial
infection. An unusual combination of generalized (global) wasting of the
kidney and focal calyceal clubbing developed within a few weeks of the
acute infection. The pattern of calyceal deformity strongly suggests
papillary necrosis; it may develop during the acute phase, but go
unrecognized during excretory urography at that time because of impaired
contrast material excretion. The combination of a small, smooth kidney and
papillary necrosis previously has been associated only with the more severe
forms of analgesic nephropathy. Observations in these patients indicate
that the same urographic findings may also occur as a result of a single
earlier episode of acute bacterial infection of the kidney.
