Diseases of the Tubules and Interstitium

Diseases Affecting Tubules and Interstitium in the Urinary Tract Kidney

• Most forms of tubular injury also involve the interstitium.
• Tubulointerstitial nephritis (pyelonephritis) is an inflammatory disease that affects the interstitium and tubules of the kidneys.
• In late stages of the disease, the glomeruli may also be affected.
• The main cause of tubulointerstitial nephritis is bacterial infection, particularly in the pelvis (pyelonephritis).
• Interstitial nephritis is the term used for non-bacterial causes such as drugs, metabolic disorders, physical injury, viral infections, and immune reactions.
• Both acute and chronic forms of tubulointerstitial nephritis can occur regardless of the underlying cause.
• Acute pyelonephritis is a suppurative inflammation of the kidney and the pelvis.