[Real errors in the diagnosis of well-known diffuse kidney lesions and their causes (critical comments. The author's own observations)].

Analysis of the data obtained during a comprehensive examination of a great number of nephrologic patients during 1964-1989 permitted the author to draw a conclusion that a considerable part of errors in the diagnosis of diffuse renal lesions (DRL) are primarily made as a result of inadequate choice of examination methods that might contribute to the solving of a diagnostic problem; an insufficiently clear idea of the resolving power of those methods, and violation of the succession of their use. Erroneous interpretation of the patient's complaints and disease history we face sometimes, inadequate competence in the assessment of the clinical symptoms and laboratory data are of no less importance. All these moments are supported by the author's own observations. Special emphasis is laid on the causes of diagnostic errors occurring in the diagnosis of primary chronic pyelonephritis (PCPN), especially of its latent form, renal amyloidosis, focal nephritis, toxic or toxico-infectious kidneys, concomitant diffuse renal lesions, and on the etiology of the nephrotic syndrome (NS). The author substantiates inaccuracy of the concept of a potential development of the NS in patients suffering from PCPN. The author holds that if PCPN patients manifest the NS, it means that PCPN may be coupled with certain DRL complicated by the NS.