Renal papillary necrosis

A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Kidney anatomy

Kidney - blood and urine flow

Necrosis - renal papillae; Renal medullary necrosis

Necrosis (tissue death) of the renal papillae may make the kidney unable to concentrate the urine. Symptoms may include:

• Back pain or flank pain
• Bloody urine
• Cloudy urine
• Dark, rust-colored, or brown urine
• Tissue in the urine

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Chills
• Incontinence
• Increased urinary frequency or urgency
• Painful urination
• Passing large amounts of urine
• Urinating frequently at night
• Urinary hesitancy

---

---

An examination may reveal tenderness when touching the body over the affected kidney. There may be a history of chronic or recurrent urinary tract infections. There may be signs of obstructive uropathy or renal failure.

A urinalysis may show dead tissue in the urine.

An IVP may show obstruction or tissue in the renal pelvis or ureter.

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).