Pyelonephritis in the Diabetic

In a study of 80 juvenile diabetic patients, chronic pyelonephritis was found histologically in seven (9%) of open renal biopsies. Twelve patients (15%) had positive urine cultures. No patient had a positive renal-biopsysite culture. Three patients (4%) had positive renal-tissue cultures. There was essentially no correlation found between the presence of positive urine cultures, positive tissue cultures, and the histological diagnosis of chronic pyelonephritis. It is suggested that factors other than the continued presence of bacteria in the kidney may play a role in the pathogenesis of chronic pyelonephritis.