Renal involvement in malaria

Abstract
In a series of 84 non-selected patients with falciparum malaria, 56 had renal manifestations (6 patients with vivax malaria showed no renal involvement). Mild proteinuria attributed to the non-specific effect of fever was the most common finding, being noted in 24 patients or 28·6. Azotaemia due to volume deficit and increased protein catabolism was observed in 12 patients. 2 patients had haemoglobinuria without impaired renal function. Of 18 patients with acute renal failure, one was associated with intravascular haemolysis, and in 17 it was secondary to heavy parasitaemia. Decreased renal blood flow due to alterations in intrarenal haemodynamics is believed to be responsible for the renal failure in these patients.
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