Abstract

Abstract:Although it commonly is assumed by clinical teachers that acute febrile illness may result in increased proteinuria, documentation is meager. In six adults with acute febrile illness, daily urinary protein was measured by a biuret method modified to read concentrations as low as 5 mg/ 100 ml. The initially elevated temperatures (101 to 103 F [38.3 to 39.4 C]) gradually declined over several days. Urinary protein was also highest initially (165 to 2,110 mg/24 hours). In five of the six patients, when afebrile, urinary protein ranged from 48 to 140 mg/24 hours; in one patient, it remained elevated (261 mg/24 hours). The study reveals nothing of mechanism or incidence of febrile proteinuria, nor how often a patient may have as much as 2 gm of proteinuria. The data show that increased proteinuria does indeed occur in the course of acute febrile illness. At least in this instance, an old clinical impression is documented.