What type of casts are commonly seen in cases of interstitial nephritis?

In interstitial nephritis, the primary pathological changes occur in the renal interstitium, which often results from an inflammatory process. This condition can be triggered by various factors, including medications, infections, or autoimmune diseases. As part of the inflammatory response in interstitial nephritis, there is often an infiltration of white blood cells into the renal interstitium.

Consequently, the presence of white cell casts in the urine is a significant indicator of interstitial nephritis. These casts are formed when white blood cells aggregate in the renal tubules and take on the shape of the tubules as they are excreted in the urine. The detection of these casts can help differentiate interstitial nephritis from other types of kidney diseases, aiding in the diagnosis and management.

Other cast types noted in the question are associated with different renal pathologies. For instance, red blood cell casts are typically indicative of glomerulonephritis, muddy brown casts are commonly seen in acute tubular necrosis, and broad waxy casts are often related to chronic kidney disease. Thus, the presence of white cell casts is distinctly linked to the inflammatory process characteristic of interstitial nephritis.