[Acute interstitial nephritis and uveitis in the adult: apropos of 3 cases]

Acute renal failure due to tubulo-interstitial nephritis accompanied by uveitis has been observed in 3 young women (TINU syndrome). In these 3 cases, the nephropathy was preceded (1-3 months) by asthenia, anorexia, weight loss and a major inflammatory syndrome. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) administration was noted. In 2 cases, uveitis appeared after the nephropathy had subsided. Renal biopsies performed in the 3 patients revealed mainly interstitial changes with mononuclear cell infiltration; immunofluorescence studies were negative. Although the severity of renal failure varied among patients, renal function recovered completely, returning to normal within 2, 3 and 24 months respectively, on corticosteroid therapy. The TINU syndrome is a rare situation compared to drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis, including NSAID related-nephritis. However, the real incidence of this syndrome might be underestimated since the uveitis can appear a few weeks later and its origin may not be related to the renal episode.