Acute renal failure due to acute pyelonephritis.

We report a case of biopsy-proved acute pyelonephritis which caused acute renal failure. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, recovery of renal function was slow and incomplete. Renal papillary necrosis was an apparent complication, which the patient may have been predisposed to by alcoholism. Although rare, acute pyelonephritis is an important consideration in the differential diagnosis of acute renal failure because of the need for specific therapy.