Papillary necrosis associated with calyceal arteritis.

The renal papilla has a double blood supply - from both the vasa recta and the calyceal arteries. The importance of the latter supply is not established. A case of polyarteritis associated with papillary necrosis is reported, in which the calyceal vessels, supplying the area, show acute necrotizing arteritis and occlusion. The pathophysiological and clinical implications are discussed.