[Acute kidney failure during periarteritis nodosa].

In 9 patients aged 16 to 71 years with acute renal failure, histological examination disclosed polyarteritis nodosa. Symptoms of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (GN) were present in 7 cases. Hypertension was a constant feature. Fever and muscular articular and cutaneous signs occured at times simulating Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Necrotizing angiitis was a constant finding, with perivascular granuloma in 7 cases. Lesions affecting smaller arteries were associated with diffuse or segmental extracapillary GN, and lesions of larger arteries with ischaemic appearance of the glomeruli. Diagnosis was obtained during life by percutaneous renal biopsy in 5 patients and muscular or cutaneous biopsy in 2 other patients, whereas the evidence was only obtained on post mortem examination in the 2 remaining patients. In the 6 renal biopsies examined by immunofluorescence, fibrinogen was always present in glomeruli and/or arteries. In one patient there was a linear deposit of IgG along glomerular basement membrane (GBM) and there were circulating antibodies directed against GBM. Arteries of different sizes may be damaged in various organs, as showed by arteriography and autopsy. Steroid therapy and immunosuppressive drugs had no effect on renal symptoms. 8 out of 9 patients died rapidly, in 6 the death was due to extrarenal localization of the disease, even though uraemia was controlled by haemodialysis. The last patient died 2 years after onset of the disease, while being on maintenance haemodialysis treatment.