Patterns of proteinuria and circulating immune complexes in febrile patients

Circulating immune complexes (CIC) were detected in 8 of 15 patients with fever due to non-renal infections. Elevated urinary albuMin and beta-2-microglobulin excretion rates were found during the febrile period compared to the levels two days after normalization of the temperature. No relationship could be demonstrated between CIC and the excretion rates of albumin and beta-2-microglobulin or the albumin/beta-2-microglobulin ratio. Thus we have not been able to confirm the hypothesis that the glomerular type of proteinuria is caused by immune complexes.