RENAL RICKETS—AN UNDESIRABLE DESIGNATION?

For more than half a century it has been known that chronic interstitial nephritis in young persons may be accompanied by retardation of growth and development, especially of the secondary sex characteristics, and by rachitic-like bony deformities. The condition has often been designated as renal dwarfism or renal infantilism, the latter perhaps being the most comprehensive and descriptive term.¹ No theory has yet been generally accepted as explaining in any adequate way the genesis of the disorder. Early diagnosis is often difficult. There are records of so-called congenital nephritis,² so that renal infantilism may have its etiologic beginnings in intra-uterine life. Infection doubtless plays an important part, although the primary focus or the time of onset of the renal lesion has not been definitely established in any case.

The osseous changes are always conspicuous, so that the bones often show no signs of active ossification in the youthful