[An infrequent cause of acute renal failure]

The clinical history of this patient was characterized by an acute localized then diffused pneumopathy, artificial respiratory assistance being necessary. At the same time, acute renal failure appeared with oligoanuria, the evolution of which being favorable after 15 days. The etiology of the pneumopathy was proved by the strongly positive ornithosis serodiagnosis: 1/512. The occupation of the patient, a country worker, correlated well with this diagnosis. The type and mechanism of the acute renal failure should be discussed. Renal biopsy disclosed a tubulo-interstitial nephritis. There was no shock during the whole clinical story. Very high CPK level in the blood was found early in the course of the disease. So, it seems probable that myolysis of viral origin, might be responsible of the renal defect.