Learn About Renal Papillary Necrosis
Renal papillary necrosis is a disorder of the kidneys in which all or part of the renal papillae die. The renal papillae are the areas where the openings of the collecting ducts enter the kidney and where urine flows into the ureters.
Necrosis - renal papillae; Renal medullary necrosis
Renal papillary necrosis often occurs with analgesic nephropathy. This is damage to one or both kidneys caused by overexposure to pain medicines. But, other conditions can also cause renal papillary necrosis, including:
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Kidney infection (pyelonephritis)
- Kidney transplant rejection
- Sickle cell anemia, a common cause of renal papillary necrosis in children
- Urinary tract blockage
Symptoms of renal papillary necrosis may include:
- Back pain or flank pain
- Bloody, cloudy, or dark urine
- Tissue pieces in the urine
Other symptoms that may occur with this disease:
- Fever and chills
- Painful urination
- Needing to urinate more often than usual (frequent urination) or a sudden, strong urge to urinate (urgency)
- Difficulty starting or maintaining a urine stream (urinary hesitancy)
- Urinary incontinence
- Urinating large amounts
- Urinating often at night
There is no specific treatment for renal papillary necrosis. Treatment depends on the cause. For example, if analgesic nephropathy is the cause, your doctor will recommend that you stop using the medicine that is causing it. This may allow the kidney to heal over time.
Hospital Universitario La Paz
Ramon Peces is in La Paz, Spain. Peces is rated as a Distinguished expert by MediFind in the treatment of Renal Papillary Necrosis. He is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Renal Papillary Necrosis, Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease, Polycystic Kidney Disease, and Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease.
Cheshire
Graham Betton is in Macclesfield, United Kingdom. Betton is rated as a Distinguished expert by MediFind in the treatment of Renal Papillary Necrosis. He is also highly rated in 1 other condition, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Renal Papillary Necrosis and Peptic Ulcer.
Bon Secours Charity Health System
Edgard Quinones, MD
Edgard Quinones is a Nephrologist in Montgomery, New York. Dr. Quinones has been practicing medicine for over 40 years and is rated as a Distinguished doctor by MediFind in the treatment of Renal Papillary Necrosis. He is also highly rated in 5 other conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Renal Papillary Necrosis, Analgesic Nephropathy, Acute Kidney Failure, and Chronic Kidney Disease. He is licensed to treat patients in New York. Dr. Quinones is currently accepting new patients.
How well a person does, depends on what is causing the condition. If the cause can be controlled, the condition may go away on its own. Sometimes, people with this condition develop kidney failure and will need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Health problems that may result from renal papillary necrosis include:
- Kidney infection
- Kidney stones
- Kidney cancer, especially in people who take a lot of pain medicines
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if:
- You have bloody urine
- You develop other symptoms of renal papillary necrosis, especially after taking over-the-counter pain medicines
Controlling diabetes or sickle cell anemia may reduce your risk. To prevent renal papillary necrosis from analgesic nephropathy, follow your provider's instructions when using medicines, including over-the-counter pain relievers. Do not take more than the recommended dose without asking your provider.
There is no recent research available for this condition. Please check back because thousands of new papers are published every week and we strive to find and display the most recent relevant research as soon as it is available.
Published Date: July 27, 2021
Published By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Chen W, Monk RD, Bushinsky DA. Nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis. In: Feehally J, Floege J, Tonelli M, Johnson RJ, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 57.
Cooper KL, Badalato GM, Rutman MP. Infections of the urinary tract. In: Partin AW, Dmochowski RR, Kavoussi LR, Peters CA, eds. Campbell-Walsh-Wein Urology. 12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 55.
Landry DW, Bazari H. Approach to the patient with renal disease. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 106.