CLINICAL AND IMMUNE ASPECTS OF IDIOPATHIC ACUTE TUBULOINTERSTITIAL NEPHRITIS AND UVEITIS SYNDROME

Five patients with idiopathic interstitial nephritis and uveitis witho ut bone marrow granulomas were followed-up for 1 year. Ophthalmologica l examination revealed bilateral anterior uveitis. Light microscopy of the renal tissue revealed predominant lymphocyte infiltration of the interstitium. Immuno-histochemical analysis revealed a clear predomina nce of memory T lymphocytes (CD45RO+) in the interstitial and tubular infiltration. HLA typing, and immunophenotypic studies of peripheral b lood mononuclear cells including absolute lymphocyte and monocyte coun ts were assessed. The patients' peripheral T-cell subpopulation did no t significantly differ from control studies. With steroid treatment ma intained during a period of 6-9 months renal function and uveitis resp onded dramatically in all patients. After 1-year follow-up, only 1 pat ient showed a relapse of uveitis, but there was complete clinical reco very of the nephritis in all 5 patients. The aim of this study was to describe the 1-year follow-up of 5 new cases of acute tubulointerstiti al nephritis and uveitis syndrome, and assess some aspects of their ce llular immunity.