ON THE EXACERBATION IN CHRONIC GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The natural history of each of 28 exacerbations of nephritis occurring in 13 of a series of 68 patients with chronic glomerulonephritis is described. In the main, these individuals were under close observation for periods of from 1-8 yrs. The frequency of exacerbation as denned is greater in the young than in the adult group in this series. All 13 of the patients experienced exacerbations initiated by Group A hemolytic streptococcus infections. 5 of these patients underwent additional exacerbations related to upper respiratory infections which could not be proved due to the Group A hemolytic streptococcus. No exacerbation of chronic glomerulonephritis in this series occurred without concomitant infection. The latent period between the onset of the infection and the exacerbation was from 1-4 days in the majority of instances. This latent period between the onset of the infection and the exacerbation was from 1-4 days in the majority of instances. This latent period, as pointed out by others, is much shorter than that seen between the infection and the onset of acute glomerulonephritis. A common effect of the exacerbation was to produce a transient decrease in renal function. 10 of the 13 patients exhibited 1-4 such exacerbations. 6 patients underwent exacerbations in which no effect on renal, function could be demonstrated. 4 of these 6 patients, however, experienced other exacerbations in which a transient decrease in renal function was observed. Only 1 patient developed a permanent decrease in renal function following an exacerbation, but the nephritis at this time was at a terminal stage. The limitations of the renal function tests employed are discussed.