Renal Function in Scurvy

Abstract

Renal function studies in 14 patients with florid scurvy are reported. The glomerular filtration rate and the effective renal plasma flow were measured by clearance techniques under various conditions in all subjects. Tmpah was determined in three patients. While on a control diet which aimed to reproduce their diet before admission and when the temperature was normal, there was a slight reduction in the filtration rate, a more evident reduction in effective renal plasma flow, and a striking reduction in the renal blood flow. The reduction in renal blood flow is related to a reduction in the hematocrit and to a lesser extent a diminution in the effective renal plasma flow. In a single patient without anemia these functions were normal. The Tmpah was normal in two patients and slightly reduced in one. While allowing for the findings in the control state in relationship to age, the magnitude of the reduction in glomerular filtration rate was such that it was unlikely to have contributed materially to the conservation of vitamin C in the scorbutic patient. The values reverted toward normal on treatment. Although these findings may be ascribed to the effect of vitamin C in improving the associated anemia, which was present in 13 of the patients, it is probable that the increased protein of the ward diet contributed to the restoration toward normal.