Isiopathic postpartum renal failure: review and case report of a successful renal transplantation.

Idiopathic postpartum renal failure is a syndrome of acute, rapidly progressive oliguria, azotemia, and microangiopathic hemolytic anemia occurring shortly after a normal pregnancy and usually terminating fatally. Of 25 patients described in the literature, 8 survived: 1 recovered almost normal renal function, 4 had renal functional impairment, and 3 required maintenance hemodialysis. This report concerns a patient who survived after nephrectomy, hemodialysis, and successful renal transplantation from a living related donor. Theoretic and experimental studies indicate that heparin, platelet inhibitors, and fibrinolytic agents should be beneficial if given early. If the disease progresses to the irreversible stage, nephrectomy and renal transplantation are warranted since the disorder does not seem to recur after transplantation.