INTERSTITIAL NEPHRITIS AND MESALAZINE - 3 NEW CASES

We report three new cases of chronic interstitial nephritis occurring in two patients with Crohn's disease and one patients with ulcerative colitis treated with mesalazine. In the three cases asymptomatic renal disease was revealed by an increase in serum creatinine which was nor mal before treatment. Renal biopsy showed features of severe chronic i nterstitial nephritis. Mesalazine withdrawal and administration of ste roids in two cases led to partial improvement of renal function. Mecha nism of renal toxicity of mesalazine is unknown. These observations st ress the need for monitoring renal function in patients with inflammat ory bowel disease treated with mesalazine.