Glomerular filtration rate and plasma solutes in BALB/c mice infected with Plasmodium berghei

Immune-complex glomerular nephritis (ICGN) is known to develop during malarial infections, but little is known of its impact on renal function. A total of 24 male BALB/c mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei, and measurements of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), parasitemia, and plasma solute concentrations were made on days 0, 7, 14, and 19 post-infection. Identical observations were made on 24 uninfected controls. The GFR declined progressively in infected mice from a mean of 201 +/- 2.1 (day 0) to 51 +/- 3 microliters/min (day 19), whereas parasitemia rose to 47% +/- 4.2% infected erythrocytes. In controls, the GFR remained unchanged, averaging 205 +/- 3.4 microliters/min. Plasma osmolality rose in infected mice (326 +/- 1 vs 310 +/- 0.6 mosmol/kg in controls) as a result of increased chloride (123 +/- 0.7 vs 117 +/- 0.6 mEq/l) and urea (17.8 +/- 2.8 vs 9.3 +/- 0.7 mM/l levels). The data reveal a substantial deterioration of renal function during the course of a malarial infection that is short of outright renal failure.