Renal papillary necrosis

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Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Renal papillary necrosis is a disorder of the kidneys in which all or part renal papillae die. The renal papillae is the area where the openings of the collecting ducts enter the kidney.

Necrosis - renal papillae; Renal medullary necrosis

Renal papillary necrosis is most commonly associated with analgesic nephropathy. However, a number of conditions can cause this condition, including:

• Diabetic nephropathy
• Kidney infection
• Kidney transplant rejection
• Urinary tract obstruction
• Sickle cell anemia

Sickle cell anemia is a common cause of renal papillary necrosis in children.

Review Date: 08/17/2009
Reviewed By: Parul Patel, MD, Private Practice specializing in Nephrology and Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation, Affiliated with California Pacific Medical Center, Department of Transplantation, San Francisco, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).

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