Trench nephritis: a retrospective perception.

An epidemic of nephritis occurred among soldiers in World War I, predominantly those in the trenches. Characterized by the sudden onset of albuminuria, hypertension, edema, and dyspnea, atypical features such as bronchitis, an evanescent course, low early mortality, and frequent relapses distinguished it from poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Pathologic features included glomerular ischemia, capillary thrombi, endocapillary proliferation, and frequently epithelial crescents, suggesting an underlying vasculitis. The cause was not established, but a postinfectious, possibly postviral, etiology seems most plausible. Trench nephritis was the major nephrologic problem of World War I, accounting for 5% of medical admissions and more than 10% of military hospital bed occupancy at that time.