[Interstitial nephropathies induced by meticillin: demonstration of distal tubule functional anomalies]

Renal tubular dysfunction was investigated in two patients with meticillin-induced interstitial nephritis. Some degree of renal failure persisted after the acute episode in both cases. The first patient was investigated 10 weeks after the onset of the nephropathy. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and distal tubular acidosis were demonstrated. The second patient was investigated 7 months after the onset of the nephropathy. A major impairment in urinary concentration ability was demonstrated. Neither patient had proximal tubular dysfunction. These data show that meticillin-induced interstitial nephritis may be responsible for distal tubular abnormalities, namely nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and distal tubular acidosis, which may persist long after the onset of the nephropathy.