Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis after wasp stings

A 61-year-old Caucasian man presented with acute renal failure after multiple wasp stings. The patient required dialysis support temporarily. Work-up failed to show rhabdomyolysis or hemolysis and a kidney biopsy revealed acute allergic interstitial nephritis. The patient's renal function recovered completely after a short course of steroid therapy. Acute renal failure after wasp stings is typically caused by acute tubular necrosis In the setting of hemolysis or rhabdomyolysis. Compared with previously reported cases of acute renal failure associated with bee stings, our patient is unique In that his renal failure was caused by a hypersensitivity reaction apparently to the wasp venom. (C) 2001 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.