Acute renal failure in a solitary kidney due to bacterial pyelonephritis

Deterioration of renal function after acute bacterial pyelonephritis is rare. We report on 2 patients with a solitary functioning kidney in whom acute renal failure developed in the setting of acute bacterial pyelonephritis. Following antimicrobial treatment kidney function returned to baseline values. This finding suggests that patients with a solitary functioning kidney are more prone to have renal dysfunction after acute bacterial pyelonephritis.