Interstitial nephritis
Interstitial nephritis, also known as tubulointerstitial nephritis, is inflammation of the area of the kidney known as the renal interstitium, which consists of a collection of cells, extracellular matrix, and fluid surrounding the renal tubules. In addition to providing a scaffolding support for the tubular architecture, the interstitium has been shown to participate in the fluid and electrolyte exchange as well as endocrine functions of the kidney.
There are a variety of known factors that can provoke the inflammatory process within the renal interstitium, including pharmacologic, environmental, infectious and systemic disease contributors. The spectrum of disease presentation can range from an acute process to a chronic condition with progressive tubular cell damage and renal dysfunction.
Signs and symptoms
Interstitial nephritis may present with a variety of signs and symptoms, many of these nonspecific. Fever is the most common, occurring in 30-50% of patients, particularly those with drug-induced interstitial nephritis. Other general symptoms that occur with variable frequency include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, lack of appetite, and weight loss. More specific symptoms, such as flank pain, pain with urination, and visible blood in the urine, as well as signs like hypertension can be helpful in increasing suspicion for the diagnosis. The "classic" triad of symptoms reported in early documented cases consisted of rash, joint pain, and increased eosinophils in the blood; however, more recent epidemiology suggests that this grouping of symptoms only occurs in a small minority of patients. However, with modern drugs causing between 70-90% of current cases, it is not surprising that the earliest documented cases and a minority of today's may present different symptoms.Causes
Common causes include infection, or reaction to medication such as an analgesic or antibiotics such as methicillin. Reaction to medications causes 71% to 92% of cases.Drugs
| Class | Examples |
| Antibiotic | β-lactams, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, anti-tuberculins, chloramphenicol |
| Antiviral | Acyclovir, atazanavir, abacavir, indinavir |
| Pain | Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, selective COX-2 inhibitors |
| Gastrointestinal | Proton pump inhibitors, H2-receptor blockers, 5-aminosalicylates |
| Antiseizure | Phenytoin, carbamazepine, phenobarbital |
| Diuretic | Hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, triamterene, chlorthalidone |
| Chemotherapy | Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, checkpoint inhibitors |
| Other | Allopurinol, Chinese herbs |
This disease is also caused by other diseases and toxins that damage the kidney. Both acute and chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis can be caused by a bacterial infection in the kidneys known as pyelonephritis, but the most common cause is by an adverse reaction to a medication. The medications that are known to cause this sort of reaction are β-lactam antibiotics such as penicillin
and cephalexin, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as proton-pump inhibitors, rifampicin, sulfa medications, fluoroquinolones, diuretics, allopurinol, mesalamine, and phenytoin. The time between exposure to the drug and the development of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis can be anywhere from 5 days to 5 months.
Diagnosis
At times, there are no symptoms of this disease, but when they do occur they are widely varied and can occur rapidly or gradually. When caused by an allergic reaction, the symptoms of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis are fever, rash, and enlarged kidneys. Some people experience dysuria, and lower back pain. In chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis the patient can experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weight loss. Other conditions that may develop include a high concentration of potassium in the blood, metabolic acidosis, and kidney failure.Blood tests
About 23% of patients have a high level of eosinophils in the blood.Urinary findings
Urinary findings include:- Eosinophiluria: Original studies with Methicillin-induced AIN showed sensitivity of 67% and specificity of 83%. The sensitivity is higher in patients with interstitial nephritis induced by methicillin or when the Hansel's stain is used. However, a 2013 study showed that the sensitivity and specificity of urine eosinophil testing are 35.6% and 68% respectively.
- Isosthenuria
- Blood in the urine and occasional RBC casts
- Sterile pyuria: white blood cells and no bacteria
- Nephrotic-range amount of protein in the urine may be seen with NSAID-associated AIN
Pathology
Gallium scan
The sensitivity of an abnormal gallium scan has been reported to range from 60% to 100%.Treatment
Treatment consists of addressing the cause, such as by removing an offending drug. There is no clear evidence that corticosteroids help.Nutrition therapy consists of adequate fluid intake, which can require several liters of extra fluid.
Prognosis
The kidneys are the only body system that are directly affected by tubulointerstitial nephritis. Kidney function is usually reduced; the kidneys can be just slightly dysfunctional, or fail completely.In chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis, the most serious long-term effect is kidney failure. When the proximal tubule is injured, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, uric acid, and phosphate reabsorption may be reduced or changed, resulting in low bicarbonate, known as metabolic acidosis, low potassium, low uric acid known as hypouricemia, and low phosphate known as hypophosphatemia. Damage to the distal tubule may cause loss of urine-concentrating ability and polyuria.
In most cases of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis, the function of the kidneys will return after the harmful drug is not taken anymore, or when the underlying disease is cured by treatment. If the illness is caused by an allergic reaction, a corticosteroid may speed the recovery kidney function; however, this is often not the case.
Chronic tubulointerstitial nephritis has no cure. Some patients may require dialysis. Eventually, a kidney transplant may be needed.