Background

Condition Lookup

Category:

Renal Disorders

Number of Conditions: 1

Papillary Necrosis

Specialty: Infectious Diseases

Category: Renal Disorders

Sub-category: Ischemic or Toxic Nephropathy

Symptoms:
hematuria (blood in urine); flank pain; fever; proteinuria; reduced urine output; renal colic symptoms

Root Cause:
Necrosis of renal papillae due to ischemia or direct toxicity, often secondary to conditions like diabetes, sickle cell disease, or NSAID overuse.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI, urinalysis, and renal function tests.

Treatment:
Addressing the underlying cause, hydration, supportive care, and avoiding nephrotoxic agents.

Medications:
Management includes antibiotics (if infection is present) and analgesics (carefully avoiding nephrotoxic drugs).

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; commonly associated with predisposing conditions like diabetes or analgesic abuse.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Diabetes, sickle cell disease, chronic NSAID use, pyelonephritis, dehydration.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; mild cases resolve with treatment, but severe cases can lead to chronic kidney disease or renal failure.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Acute kidney injury, recurrent urinary tract infections, chronic kidney disease.