Concerns over Anna Hazare's health mounted this afternoon with doctors advising him to end his fast as its continuance could affect his kidneys.

The 74-year-old activist's sodium and chloride levels have gone down and there are signs of dehydration but no congestion in chest or throat.

"We strongly advise discontinuing the fast as continuing it may lead to kidney failure. There is evidence of dehydration," Ashwin Mehta of city's Jaslok Hospital, who examined Hazare along with P P Lahane, Dean of JJ Hospital, said.

He said Hazare's temperature was 100 degrees, but his blood pressure dropped when standing, making it difficult for him to walk.

"His BP while sitting was 120/90 and 105/70 while standing. The Gandhian's pulse rate was 71," he said.

"As doctors we have asked him to call off his fast. Now he has to take a decision," Lahane said.

The social activist has been stubbornly rejecting requests by his close associates to call off his hunger strike, despite concerns about his health.

Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan had also spoken to Hazare last night and appealed to him to end his fast.

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Minor improvement in Hazare's health

There was minor improvement in Anna Hazare's health on Wednesday as his fever subsided to 100 degrees from 102 degrees last night even as his close associates continued to press him to end his fast.

"Doctors examined Hazare this morning and there is a minor improvement in his health," a close aide said.

His pulse rate is also down to 72 from 98 last night.

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"Medical update for Anna Hazare: fever 100, pulse: 72, Blood pressure: 152/90," his close aide Suresh Pathare tweeted.

Another associate Manish Sisodia said it was very important that he has some food so that he can take medicines.

"We are trying that he ends his fast, so that medicine can be given to him," he said.

Yesterday, doctors attending Hazare had said that his fever has shot up to 102 degrees and his pulse rate too had gone up.

The veteran social activist has been ignoring requests from his close associates to call off his hunger strike, despite concerns about his health.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan had also met the 74-year-old Gandhian last night and appealed to him to end his fast.

An IAC spokesperson said that Hazare supporters were pleading with him to end the fast, but he is still adamant on continuing it.

A doctor attending on Hazare said that he had become weak and has also lost some weight.

"He has been advised to take rest. His blood samples will be collected. But as of now, there is no need to move him to a hospital," his doctor P G Pote said.