[Focal and segmentary necrotizing glomerulonephritis in rheumatoid arthritis. Description of 2 cases]

Two patients diagnosed of seropositive Rheumatoid Arthritis, developed severe renal failure associated in one case to alveolar hemorrhage. The renal histological study showed in both patients Focal and Segmentary Necrotizing Glomerulonephritis, with extracapillary proliferation. There were no evidences of concomitant diseases or nephrotoxic pharmacological therapy in the two patients. The first patient had a positive response to the corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy, whereas the second patient developed an irreversible renal failure. We think that this complication, although extremely rare, must be taken into account in all patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis presenting a quick and sudden impairment of his renal function.