The rarity of chronic atrophic pyelonephritis in adults Nigerians

A study was designed to investigate and define the true incidence of chronic atrophic pyelonephritis; its contributing role as a cause of chronic renal failure. The study was designed to investigate and define the true incidence of chronic disease in affected individuals in a hospital based population. We relied on radiological and postmortem histopathological evidences of the disease. The results showed that radiologically detectable unilateral chronic atrophic pyelonephritis was found in only 15 out of 391 intravenous pyelograms performed on patients referred to the renal clinic (3.8 per cent) during the five-year study period; bilateral disease was not found. Histopathological evidence from postmortem studies showed evidence of chronic atrophic pyelonephritis in 12 out of 250 autopsies (4.8%). In a short term follow up of women with unilateral pyelonephritic scars, it was found that antihypertensive treatment and meticulous treatment of urinary tract infection prevented a decline in renal function and the outcome of pregnancy was satisfactory. Chronic atrophic pyelonephritis is a rare disease in adult Nigerians and seems to be a benign disease. It may be indolent and unrecognised in many patients.