Clinical characteristics of nephropathia epidemica in Sweden: prospective study of 74 cases

Clinical symptoms and laboratory measures of renal and liver function, coagulation, and inflammatory parameters were prospectively studied in 74 hospitalized patients (14-74 years of age) with serologic evidence of nephropathia epidemica. The most common clinical findings were acute onset of symptoms, fever (greater than or equal to 38 degrees C), thirst, headache, nausea, back pain, vomiting, myalgia, and abdominal pain. Twenty-seven patients (37%) had hemorrhagic manifestations, i.e., epistaxis, melena, hematemesis, petechial bleeding, macroscopic hematuria, or metrorrhagia. Disseminated intravascular coagulation developed in four patients. Fifty-one percent had thrombocytopenia. Proteinuria was recorded for all patients, while hematuria and glucosuria were noted for 85% and 58%, respectively. Serum creatinine levels were elevated in 71 (96%) of the patients. Levels of C-reactive protein or erythrocyte sedimentation rates were elevated in all cases, usually to levels found in serious bacterial diseases. Sixty-six (89%) of the patients were followed for up to 7 months, at which time all had recovered clinically. No patient died or required dialysis. We conclude that nephropathia epidemica in Sweden has a clinical picture similar to that of hemorrhagic fevers in other parts of the world, but with a milder course and a better prognosis.