Renal Disease and Drug Therapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

The incidence of renal disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis was studied in the clinical and pathological records in 61 cases (17 men and 44 women) and the renal histology was reviewed. Significant renal disease was found in 72% of the patients, and renal papillary necrosis (RPN) in 21%; 34% of the patients had died in renal failure. Drug therapy appeared to have an influence on the amount of renal disease. The incidence of the various forms of non-obtructive pyelonephritis was significantly higher in patients receiving phenacetin. Renal amyloidosis was more common and renal papillary necrosis less common in the patients who received costicosteroids.