Ketogenic diet in persistent pyuria.

The ketogenic diet as a treatment of persistent pyuria was first introduced by Clark and Helmholz in 19311. They found that when the acidity of the urine was increased below pH 5 4 the urine became bacteriafree in a short time and in conjunction with this the pus disappeared from the urine. Later Clark2 (1932) demonstrated that this sterilization was not due to the acidity of the urine. In 1933 Fuller3 showed experimentally that the principal factor inhibiting the growth of bacteria in the urine was due to the alpha-beta-hydroxy-butyric acid. This ketone body is inactive at a reaction more alkaline than pH 5-6. Gray4 has reported that he found the ketogenic diet helpful in pyelitis caused by staphylococci. Bell5 discussed the value of the diet as a therapeutic measure. Clark6 reported beneficial results in every one of fifty-three cases which he treated. Rennie7 on the other hand in six cases of pyelitis in children found that ketogenic diet cured two, caused temporary cessation of symptoms with later relapse in three, and was valueless in one. He cites a cure in one adult case. He considers ketogenic diet of little value as a curative agent in pyuria associated with an abnormality of the urinary tract.