Radiation nephritis: a review.

Radiation nephritis is a process of necrosis, atrophy and sclerosis that follows exposure of the kidney to ionizing radiation. Experimental studies with electron microscopy demonstrate that this process begins as degeneration of the glomerular endothelium and the tubular epithelium, and their basement membranes, leading to collapse of these structures and the development of interstitial fibrosis. Rather late and complicating events are necrosis and thrombosis of arteries and arterioles, contributing to the destruction of the renal parenchyma. The process is the same with large doses (5,000 to 10,000 rads) and with medium doses (1,000 to 3,000 rads), the only difference being the extent and the speed with which the lesions develop and the frequency of arterial necrosis.