RESUMO
A radiothermometer has made it possible to take deep temperature directly from the kidney. Comparison of temperatures, obtained from normal nonpregnant women, normal pregnant women and pregnant patients with acute pyelonephritis has demonstrated a significant drop in renal temperature during pregnancy. In acute pyelonephritis, renal temperature drops still further, with the temperature difference between the affected kidney and the contralateral one ranging from 0.5 degrees to 1.5 degrees. Deep temperature measurements of each kidney are taken from several sites, selected at ultrasonic scanning, which makes it possible to calculate temperature variance for the kidney. Variance increases significantly (more than two-fold) in the inflamed kidney, as compared to the intact one. Therefore, the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis can be made where deep temperature difference is between 0.5 degrees and 1.5 degrees and temperature variance is increased twofold or more in one kidney, as compared to the other, in a pregnant patient. The side of affection is also determined in this way. The proposed diagnostic method is perfectly safe for the mother and the fetus, and can be used for the diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis during pregnancy, along with other procedures.
