Gram-negative sepsis with acute renal failure. Occurrence from acute glomerulonephritis
A. R. Zappacosta and B. L. Ashby
Acute intrinsic renal failure occurred in an adult patient with Escherichia
coli septicemia. The clinical course did not include any of the
circumstances usually present when acute renal failure complicates
Gram-negative sepsis. A renal biopsy showed acute proliferative
glomerulonephritis. There was no evidence to support other known causes of
acute parenchymal renal failure, such as poststreptococcal
glomerulonephritis, subacute bacterial endocarditis, or vasculitis. The
patient recovered completely with antibiotic therapy, and renal function
returned to normal within two weeks. An immunologic mechanism involving E
coli was considered responsible for the acute renal failure.
