“…A study of renal function in septic shock carried out at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, for example, showed generally higher serial specific gravity measurements among nonsurvivors than among survivors despite the fact that other studies POSTGRADUATE MEDICINE indicated an almost complete loss of renal concentrating ability in the patients who subsequently died. 13 It follows that measure_ment of urinary osmolality (affected only bynumbers of particles) is a much more reliable guide to concentrating capacity of the kidneys in shock patients.…”