Acute Interstitial Nephritis

AIN, Acute Interstitial Nephritis


Acute interstitial nephritis is also called AIN. AIN is a condition in which there is damage to the tissue around the filtering unit of the kidney. This can result in a sudden decline in the kidney function.
What is going on in the body?

In AIN, different types of white blood cells invade the filtering system of the kidney. This causes it to swell. The rise in white blood cells is most often a result of an allergic reaction to a medicine. But it may also be caused by some infections. Most people who have AIN recover completely. But sometimes, scarring results. If that happens, the kidney may have irreversible damage.
What are the causes and risks of the disease?

AIN may be caused by:
# allergic reaction to certain medicines. Examples include penicillin, cephalosporins, sulfa medicines, ibuprofen, thiazide, phenytoin, and cimetidine. A person who is exposed over and over to the medicine that caused the AIN has a higher risk of infection.
# autoimmune disorders, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogren syndrome
# infection, such as pyelonephritis or infection of the kidney, group A streptococcal infection, diphtheria, and mononucleosis

Sometimes the cause is unknown.