Acute renal failure and infectious mononucleosis.

Renal failure is a rare complication of infectious mononucleosis, and is usually due to acute interstitial nephritis. Outcome has been variable with spontaneous recovery, death, and chronic renal failure being described. Only two patients have been reported as requiring dialysis. In some cases the aetiology of the interstitial nephritis has been open to doubt and may have been drug-induced. The case of a patient with acute renal failure associated with infectious mononucleosis and in whom interstitial nephritis appears to have been totally related to the underlying disease is described. There was an excellent response to treatment with high doses of methyl prednisolone given intravenously.