Editorial

Granulomatous Interstitial Nephritis A Complication of Heroin Abuse

Authors: Charles J. McAllister MD, Robert Horn MD, Sam Havron MD, And, Jerome H. Abramson MD

Abstract

ABSTRACTA 27-year-old man, a known heroin addict with previously diagnosed nephrotic syndrome, had a percutaneous renal biopsy for recurrent proteinuria. The biopsy revealed a glomerular lesion compatible with focal sclerosing nephropathy. The renal interstitium also demonstrated numerous active granulomas characterized by the presence of both multilamellated basophilic material and areas of unstained fibrillar material. These findings represent a previously undescribed complication of parenteral heroin abuse—renal granuloma formation.

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References