Chronic pyelonephritis can lead to which long-term kidney change?

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Multiple Choice

Chronic pyelonephritis can lead to which long-term kidney change?

Explanation:
Chronic pyelonephritis causes ongoing inflammation from repeated kidney infections, and the body responds by healing with fibrosis. Over time this leads to scar formation in the renal tissue, especially around the calyces and papillae, giving the kidney a scarred, irregular, and often shrunken appearance. This scarring reflects the long-term structural change and is what ultimately reduces renal function. Hydronephrosis would be a dilation of the kidney due to obstruction, which isn’t the typical lasting change from chronic infection itself. Cyst formation and amyloidosis are not characteristic outcomes of chronic pyelonephritis.

Chronic pyelonephritis causes ongoing inflammation from repeated kidney infections, and the body responds by healing with fibrosis. Over time this leads to scar formation in the renal tissue, especially around the calyces and papillae, giving the kidney a scarred, irregular, and often shrunken appearance. This scarring reflects the long-term structural change and is what ultimately reduces renal function.

Hydronephrosis would be a dilation of the kidney due to obstruction, which isn’t the typical lasting change from chronic infection itself. Cyst formation and amyloidosis are not characteristic outcomes of chronic pyelonephritis.

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