Yersinia enterocolitica (Pasteurella x) in human enteric infections.

Seven patients with fatal acute glomerulonephritis referred to a haemodialysis unit in a three-year period were between 53 and 78 years of age. The presenting features and natural history of acute glomerulonephritis in this age group often differ from those commonly seen in younger patients. The rarity of the disease in the middle-aged and elderly, coupled with the atypical presentation of most of the patients, made the clinical diagnosis difficult. The histological changes included necrosis of glomerular tufts, obliteration of Bowman's space by proliferation of the capsular epithelium, and endothelial proliferation with glomerular exudate. Renal biopsy is valuable in both establishing the diagnosis and assessing the severity of the disease, and so avoiding submission of patients with no hope of recovery to unnecessary treatment. We are grateful to Professor J. Anderson for permission to report these cases, and to Professor H. A. Magnus for his advice. The photomicrographs were prepared by Mr. George Harwood.