Renal disease in infectious mononucleosis.

Evidence of mild renal involvement is present in approximately 16% of patients with infectious mononucleosis as gauged by abnormalities in urinary sediment. Serious renal involvement including renal failure is very rare, our incidence was only 1.6%. There are only six cases reported in the literature during the last 25 years. The mechanism of renal involvement is probably multifactorial and includes both a direct viral cytopathic effect with other factors including hemolysis, hyperuricemia, and nephrotoxic drugs playing an important role. Interstital nephritis is the most common histologic abnormality. Chronic renal failure has been reported in only one case of infectious mononucleosis.