RELATIONSHIP OF ACUTE INFECTIONS TO GLOMERULAR NEPHRITIS 1

Abstract

Forty cases of acute or subacute, glomerular nephritis were studied, most of them in young adults. Twenty-seven were follow-ed for several months to 4 yrs. Eighty-five per cent of the cases were attended with or preceded by infections of the respiratory tract, which in the majority of cases were streptococcal. Cases constantly observed for a considerable time were divided into 2 classes: (1) those recovering from acute nephritis; and (2) those in which the nephritis became chronic. In 90% of the 1st group the organism producing primary infection disappeared also. In 83.3% of the 2nd group the infecting organism persisted at its primary site. The results emphasize the importance of streptococcal infections in giving rise to secondary nephritis and lend support to Lohlein''s distinction between diffuse and focal glomerular nephritis. Case reports are given for 7 of the patients studied.