Hantavirus-induced acute renal failure

Recently hantavirus-infection and acute renal failure has become more impor tant in almost all countries of Middle- and Northern Europe (nephropathia e pidemica). In this part of Europe the course of the disease is commonly mil d as compared to hantavirus-infection in South-East Asia and the Balkan. Re cently a new subtype of hantavirus-infection with acute pulmonary syndrome has been documented in the United States, a disease with acute pulmonary di stress and high mortality. Intensive investigations of nephropathia epidemi ca in Europe has also shown that pulmonary infiltrates are more common than noted in the past. The distribution of the virus is dependent on the roden t population (vector) and may change with global warming since rodent popul ation may progressively increase. In Argentina a person-to-person transmiss ion of the hantavirus subtype (Andes) was documented recently and may influ ence the management of the hantavirus-infected patient in the future. In su mmary one should always be cautious in regard to hantavirus-infection when young patients with exposure to rodents (outdoor activities) present with h igh fever, thrombocytopenia and severe lumbalgia. Hantavirus-serology is to day available in almost all laboratories and antibody-detection is most rel iable by recombinant antigen.