Selective use of excretory urography in women with acute pyelonephritis

The outcome of excretory urography was analyzed in 103 nonpregnant women followed prospectively after community acquired acute pyelonephritis. Radiological abnormality was found in 40 per cent of the patients (17 per cent had major abnormalities, including renal scarring, calculi and obstruction). All 5 women with surgically correctable lesions had rapid bacteriological relapse or recurrent acute pyelonephritis. Neither a history of urinary tract infection, the acute inflammatory response nor infection due to Escherichia coli with or without adhesins specific for Gal alpha 1----4Gal beta-containing receptors was efficient in predicting major radiographic lesions or the outcome of treatment. Bacteremia was detected in 27 per cent of the patients but in the absence of obstruction. These results suggest that excretory urography is dispensable in most women with acute pyelonephritis, and that those needing such investigation may be identified by failure to respond to antibiotic treatment or by the recurrence pattern.