Acute renal failure in children: prognostic features after treatment with acute dialysis.

A 12-year review (1972-1983) is presented of 76 children who were dialysed because of acute renal failure. The causes of acute renal failure were mainly the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (53%), trauma (16%) and operation (13%). Fifty-eight children (76%) survived, 18 children (24%) died. Fifty-two children, the majority suffering from haemolytic-uraemic syndrome, regained complete or partial renal function after a period of dialysis lasting between 1 and 57 days. One to 7.7 years after dialysis, clearance studies with inulin (CIn), p-aminohippuric acid (CPAH) and phosphate (Tp/CIn) for staging renal function were carried out. The results of this investigation show a significant inverse correlation between the glomerular function regained and the duration of intermittent dialysis.