Acute renal failure due to bacterial pyelonephritis.

Five patients who presented with acute renal failure in association with urinary tract infection are reported. Renal function improved rapidly on antibacterial therapy and no alternative cause for acute renal failure could be identified. None had previously been known to have renal disease but three of the five had taken considerable amounts of analgesics. The unusual severity of renal functional impairment resulting from urinary tract infection in these patients is unexplained but may relate to previous analgesic abuse and/or delay in treatment. Since acute non-obstructive pyelonephritis may result in severe reversible renal failure, this diagnosis must be considered in patients presenting with acute uraemia.