A Rare Syndrome with Tubulointerstitial Nephritis: TINU Syndrome

Abstract

Tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) is a condition that can occur for different reasons and can lead to acute kidney injury or chronic kidney failure. Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) is a disease that involves both tubules and interstitium of the kidney parenchyma, mostly reversible and characterized by inflammatory cell infiltration (lymphocyte, monocytes and macrophages) in the tubulointerstitial area. There are 4 main causes of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis: drugs (75%), systemic diseases (10-15%), infections (5-10%), uveitis with tubulointerstitial nephritis (TINU) (5-10%) (1,2). Although the pathogenesis of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis is not clear, it is thought to be an autoimmune disease that develops as a result of the effects of both cellular and humoral immune mechanisms (4.5). ATN may therefore accompany other autoimmune diseases. Antigens that cross-react with kidney tubule cells and eye ciliary body epithelium are thought to be responsible for the initial pathogenesis of uveitis associated with tubulointerstitial nephritis (3). In this article, anterior uveitis syndrome with tubulointerstitial nephritis, which is rarely seen, is presented.