Polyarteritis and Acute Post-streptococcal Glomerulonephritis

Abstract

This report is concerned with 3 patients who presented clinical and laboratory data suggesting acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis and who had histological evidence of necrotizing arterial and arteriolar lesions at renal and non-renal sites. Two received no medication prior to the onset of nephritic manifestations, and one received erythromycin. Hypertension was not a prominent finding. One survived the acute illness and has pursued a favorable course after one year, while the other two succumbed in renal failure. A fourth patient presenting similar findings is briefly described. The occurrence of polyarteritic lesions in the wake of acute streptococcal infection has been suggested by others and appears to receive firm circumstantial support from the events described herein. Implications with regard to pathogenesis, differential diagnosis, and management are briefly noted.