Atatürk's kidney disease: pyelonephritis or trench nephritis? A medical and historical analysis

The aim of this study is to examine Atatürk's recurrent renal disease throughout his life in light of historical and medical evidence and to evaluate, from a medical history perspective, whether this condition is more consistent with pyelonephritis or with "trench nephritis," as described among soldiers during World War I.

This study was designed as a qualitative narrative review using document and content analysis. Primary and secondary sources obtained from the Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, the National Library, newspaper archives, physicians' reports, memoirs, and scholarly works were systematically examined. The data were classified chronologically, and symptoms, diagnoses, treatments, medical recommendations, and treatment centers were analyzed thematically within a comparative clinical framework.

The findings indicate that between 1909 and 1923, Atatürk' experienced recurrent episodes of renal pain, fever, fatigue, and urinary inflammation. The periods of the 1911 Italo-Turkish (Trablusgarb) War, the 1915 Gallipoli (Çanakkale) Campaign, and the 1918 Vienna-Karlsbad treatments are particularly notable. The therapies applied (rest, hot baths, hydrotherapy, dietary regulation, and spa cures) were consistent with contemporary medical practice in that era. The clinical presentation shows overlapping features compatible with both chronic pyelonephritis and trench nephritis.

Due to the analytical limitations of historical data, a definitive diagnosis of Atatürk's renal disease cannot be established. Nevertheless, it is likely that both trench nephritis like episodes triggered by wartime conditions and a recurrent pyelonephritis process beginning at a young age contributed to his clinical course. Despite significant health challenges, Atatürk's uninterrupted continuation of military and political leadership stands as a striking testament to his personal resilience and strong sense of duty.