Abstract
A previously healthy 55-year-old man with nephropathia epidemica (NE) developed disseminated intravascular coagulation, anuria and shock and died on day 6 of his disease. By use of indirect immunofluorescence technique and ELISA, specific serum IgM antibodies against Puumala virus could be detected, thus confirming the clinical diagnosis. This case demonstrates that NE in Scandinavia is a potentially lethal disease.