An unusual cause of renal allograft dysfunction: graft papillary necrosis

A 43-year-old nondiabetic man, 5 years post-renal transplantation, presented complaining of oliguria, fever and dysuria of 1-day duration. Graft ultrasound did not reveal any obstructive changes. Graft function did not improve in spite of 3 days of antibiotics. On the fourth day he passed fleshy material in urine subsequent to which his urine output improved and fever recovered. His graft function settled near to the previous baseline. Histological analysis of the material revealed necrosed renal papillary tissue. Renal papillary necrosis in allograft is uncommon and generally reported in the immediate postoperative phase, but it can still occur later in transplant follow-up. It is a potentially treatable cause for acute allograft dysfunction and should be suspected in transplant patients presenting with acute pyelonephritis but not getting relief from antibiotic therapy.