[Histopathology of drug and toxin induced kidney lesions].

An overview is presented of the morphologic patterns associated with drug or toxin induced renal lesions. Most prominent are the arteritis, glomerulonephritis, tubular necrosis, renal cortical necrosis, intratubular crystal deposition, acute and chronic interstitial fibrosis, interstitial granulomas and acute renal insufficiency with normal renal histology. Findings are correlated with the nature of the noxious substances. Sources of error arising from the insufficient specificity of the morphological findings and the differential diagnostic considerations are fully and critically presented. The review can serve to direct the recognition of etiologic relationships through the interpretation of morphological findings in the kidney.