Acute renal failure in patients with acute pancreatitis: prevalence, risk factors, and outcome

A total of 267 consecutive patients presenting with acute pancreatitiswere studied restrospectively. We analysed the collected datato determine the prevalence of acute renal failure (ARF), andfactors significantly predisposing to its occurrence and outcome.The prevalence of ARF in our patients was 16%. Only 2% had isolatedARF. Seventy-three percent of patients with additional organsystem failure suffered ARF after the onset of other organ failure.The number of organ system failure was significantly greaterbefore, compared to after, the development of ARF. Using multiplelogistic regression we found that pre-existing chronic diseaseand cardiovascular and haematological failure were independentrisk factors positively related to the development of ARF, whereassystemic infection was not. Overall mortality from ARF was 81%.Chronic disease, local complications and the presence of additionalorgan system failure and their number significantly increasedmortality in ARF patients. No patients requiring renal replacementtherapy survived. ARF is a common complication of severe acute pancreatitis, butoccurs late in the disease course, and mostly preceded by otherorgan system failure. The prognosis of patients with ARF isextremely poor, indicating that more emphasis should be placedon prevention of ARF.