Reversible renal glycosuria in acute interstitial nephritis

Renal glycosuria is defined as the excretion of glucose in urine in a normoglycemic state. It results from renal tubular dysfunction or immaturity of tubular function in the newborn. Etiologically, renal glycosuria is of 3 types-benign renal glycosuria, glycosuria with diabetes mellitus (including gestational diabetes) and tubular defects (Fanconi syndrome). Prognosis of benign renal glycosuria is excellent and reversible. Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is one of the main causes of acute renal failure and may often result in tubular dysfunction. In this study, the authors report the occurrence of AIN with acute renal failure that contributed to reversible renal glycosuria. The glycosuria observed in the patient of this study was an isolated tubular defect, with no phosphaturia, aminoaciduria or bicarbonaturia. Such a presentation is very rare in adults and has not been previously reported. These findings confirm that AIN with acute renal failure can cause an isolated tubular defect with benign reversible glycosuria in an adult.