Acute renal failure among a Syrian population. Incidence, aetiology, treatment and outcome.

This prospective study involved 102 patients who had acute renal failure and were treated at Aleppo University Hospital during the period 1980-1986. Acute renal failure in this group was categorized, according to the aetiology, into 12 causes. Obstructive uropathy, surgery, and crush injuries constituted 64% of all cases in males. In females, 56% of all cases were due to obstetrical trauma, acute glomerulonephritis and eclampsia. Haemodialysis was used for the treatment of 77 patients, with 65% cure, and 33% mortality. Conservative treatment was adopted for 21 patients with 62% cure, and 38% mortality. Four patients were treated by peritoneal dialysis, and they all survived. The prognosis in the studied group depended on the aetiology of acute renal failure, and accompanying risk factors such as infection, electrolyte disturbances, encephalopathy, failure of other end organs, etc. It was also found that patients presenting with anuria or oliguria had worse prognosis when compared with patients who had normal urine output.