THE CAUSE OF CHRONIC NEPHRITIS

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor:—</h3> In reading the paper on "Treatment of Acute Nephritis" by Drs. Francis D. Murphy and Bruno J. Peters (The Journal, January 17) we were surprised that mention was not made, in discussing the etiology, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis, of obstructing lesions in the ureter, at the vesical neck or in the urethra. It is difficult for a urologist to understand how it could be that some of the 205 patients in their study did not have an obstructing lesion which played a part in making the kidney vulnerable for the toxic agent that brought on the acute glomerular nephritis. Drs. Murphy and Peters say "Why some patients who have recovered from acute nephritis are completely healed and others progress gradually into the stage of chronic nephritis is an unsolved problem." Might not an obstructing lesion be at least one of the factors which caused 43 per cent