Pyelonephritis is one of the most common urological pathologies. This dangerous disease is characterized by the development of a nonspecific inflammatory process in the kidneys, in which necrotic changes develop in the kidney tissues. Pyelonephritis can occur acutely, as well as proceed in a chronic form, for a long time without showing any symptoms. At the same time, irreversible pathological processes develop in the kidney, which can lead to serious complications, up to complete loss of the kidney and even death. Based on this, timely and informative diagnosis of pyelonephritis determines the prognosis for the life and working capacity of the patient.

Diagnosis of pyelonephritis: laboratory and instrumental methods

Diagnosis of pyelonephritis is a rather complicated process, since the disease can be asymptomatic for a long time, and its clinical picture often resembles many other pathologies of the urinary tract. When diagnosing pyelonephritis, the timeliness of establishing a diagnosis, determining the severity of the disease and identifying the functional ability of the kidneys are of fundamental importance for the subsequent choice of a therapeutic regimen. For the diagnosis of pyelonephritis, laboratory and instrumental research methods are used, but a correctly conducted clinical examination also plays an important role, which makes it possible to clarify the etiology and severity of the infectious and inflammatory process in the kidneys.

Pyelonephritis Diagnosis:

  • basic laboratory methods for diagnosing pyelonephritis;
  • modern instrumental methods for diagnosing pyelonephritis;
  • Differential diagnosis of pyelonephritis: why is it important.

Basic laboratory methods for diagnosing pyelonephritis

Laboratory diagnosis of pyelonephritis is one of the most important methods to assist in making a diagnosis. In laboratory tests for pyelonephritis, the following changes are observed:

  • general blood test – pronounced leukocytosis is determined with a shift of the leukocyte formula to the left;
  • general urinalysis – leukocyturia and bacteriuria are determined, less often erythrocyturia. It is these indicators that are an important sign of the inflammatory process in the kidneys;
  • bacteriological analysis of urine – in the urine there is a high concentration of bacteria that provoked the infection;
  • Bacteriological analysis of blood shows an increase in the level of inflammatory proteins.

Modern instrumental methods for diagnosing pyelonephritis

Instrumental methods for the diagnosis of pyelonephritis allow the most accurate examination of kidney function and determine the severity of the pathology. The ultrasound picture in pyelonephritis depends on the severity of the disease and often demonstrates an increase in the echogenicity of the renal parenchyma, an increase in the size of the kidney and the expansion of its cups and pelvis. When conducting x-ray studies, it is possible to establish the ability of the kidney to retain a contrast agent, as well as to visualize the presence of purulent-necrotic processes in the renal tissues. The most informative method for diagnosing pyelonephritis is computed tomography, which allows the most detailed visualization of the pathological process in the kidneys.

sovremennye-metody-diagnostiki-pielonefrita-kak-vyyavit-zabolevanie

Differential diagnosis of pyelonephritis: why it is important to conduct it

The differential diagnosis of pyelonephritis is a mandatory step in the diagnosis of the disease, due to the fact that the clinical picture of the pathology often resembles other diseases of the urinary system. Pyelonephritis can be confused with acute cholecystitis, appendicitis or diverticulitis due to the occurrence of pain in the abdomen and side. The excretion of pus in the urine can be a sign not only of pyelonephritis, but also of various abscesses adjacent to the bladder and ureter. Very often, the symptoms of pyelonephritis resemble the clinical picture of urolithiasis, but such patients usually do not experience fever and leukocytosis. Properly performed differential diagnosis of pyelonephritis allows the most accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of the disease.

Add a comment

captcha

RefreshRefresh