Abstract
The kidneys of 50 patients with chronic pyelonephritis after injuries of the spinal cord were histologically examined by needle biopsy. The majority of the patients was under 40 years of age and possible disturbances of histological findings by lesions of vascular origin could effectively be avoided. Focal inflam-matory reactions characteristic for pyelonephritis were observed only in 38%, although all the patients had permanent bacteriuria and clinical signs of urinary infection. However, diffuse fibrous sclerosis of interstitial tissues was histometri-cally confirmed in all the examined cases and was regarded to be of diagnostic importance. Increase in the quantity of interstitial tissues was progressive with the duration of pyelonephritis and could be correlated to lowered ability of urine concentration in these patients. Arterial lesions were observed in none of the cases, excepting a single case with amylodiosis, nor was any evidence obtained to support the view that chronic pyelonephritis could cause arterial hypertension.
