Acute renal failure in infants in the tropics

This study records our experience with 40 infants who developed acute renal failure in a tropical environment over a period of 2 years. All the patients required intermittent peritoneal dialysis. Septicaemia (88%) and acute gastroenteritis (55%) constituted the leading causes of acute renal failure. Haemolytic uraemic syndrome was present in six (18%) patients. An elevated serum creatinine (85%), metabolic encephalopathy (75%), uncompensated metabolic acidosis (75%) and hyperkalaemia (48%) were the major indications for dialysis, while fluid overload was present in only 18% of the infants. Intermittent peritoneal dialysis was used in all the patients and was found to be effective. Procedural complications were minor and infrequently encountered. The clinical course and laboratory data consistent with haemolytic uraemic syndrome was observed in six patients, and acute tubular necrosis was the predominant renal lesion in the remainder. Mortality was 75%. The aetiology of acute renal failure in infants in the tropics differs significantly from that in the West, and even within a given country marked regional variations exist.