Friday 12 November 2010

MRCP revision battle 47.6: Renal papillary necrosis

Renal papillary necrosis is a form of nephropathy involving the renal papilla (= location where medullary pyramids empty urine into minor calyx)


It can cause pain and a sterile pyuria.


An IVU may show 'cup and spill' calyces.


Causes of renal papillary necrosis may be recalled as 'POSTCARDS'
  • pyelonephritis
  • obstruction of renal tract
  • shock
  • TB
  • cirrhosis of liver
  • analgesic nephropathy
  • renal transplant rejection
  • diabetes
  • sickle cell


On to the final battle of the day, mesangiocapillary glomerulonephritis...