[Development of scleroderma renal crisis in a patient with undiagnosed scleroderma].

Less than 10% of the patients with systemic scleroderma develop renal crisis, i.e. acute renal failure and severe hypertension in most cases. Kidney biopsy shows hypertensive arteriolar changes. This complication was lethal until treatment with captopril was introduced in 1976. Since that time the survival of the patients has improved. If treatment is started early, further deteoriation of the kidney may be prevented.