title: Primary chronic interstitial nephritis in Crohn's disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In Crohn's disease, cases of interstitial nephritis with renal failure have been reported in connection with the use of mesalamine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We observed 4 patients with severe interstitial nephritis proven by examination of kidney biopsy specimens. Renal failure was discovered before or simultaneously with the diagnosis of Crohn's disease, and patients were not treated with mesalamine. Impairment of renal function progressed to end-stage renal failure in 3 of the 4 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that the kidney can be an extraintestinal target of Crohn's disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several unanswered questions remain concerning the frequency of interstitial nephritis in patients with Crohn's disease, as well as the exact role of mesalamine in the development of chronic interstitial nephritis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Pitié Hospital, and INSERM U423, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Hassane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Izzedine
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: Anne-Marie
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Piette
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucsko
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumelou
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Charitanski
authors.forename: Eve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kernaonet
authors.forename: Anne-Catherine
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Baglin
authors.forename: Gilbert
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deray
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Beaufils
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000150:complications*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology*