Immunology of pyelonephritis. VIII. E. coli causes granulocytic aggregation and renal ischemia.

We studied renal venous blood after renal infection for its concentrations of leukocytes, complement and renin. In addition, we evaluated this blood for granulocytic aggregation and chemiluminescence of granulocytes. We found that very rapid activation of serum complement occurred with associated granulocytic aggregation and evident vascular occlusion and ischemia since renin rose rapidly. It appears that this early sequence of events will cause renal damage by ischemic change, as well as that known to occur from the inflammatory reaction.