Prognosis of acute renal failure in children: a multivariate analysis

Various factors were analyzed in 80 consecutive children under 16 years who had acute renal failure (ARF), for various prognostic factors. Overall mortality was 42.5%, with significantly higher levels seen in hemolytic uremic syndrome (68%, P <0.05) and associated with cardiac surgery (90.9%, P <0.01). Anuria (67.6% vs. 43.5%, P <0.05), need for dialysis (85.3% vs. 56.5%, P <0.05), neurological complications (50% vs. 6.3%, P <0.01), and respiratory complications (35.2% vs. 2.1%, P <0.01) were significantly higher in nonsurvivors than survivors. Multiple regression analysis showed the presence of neurological and respiratory complications to be poor prognostic factors. Received May 2, 1995; received in revised form August 28, 1996; accepted September 13, 1996