Bilateral renal cortical necrosis: a report of 2 cases

Two cases of renal cortical necrosis, one of which occurred after an obstetric complication (abruptio placentae) and the other after postpartum haemorrhage, are described. The diagnosis was made by percutaneous renal biopsy, intravenous pyelography and selective nephro-angiography. Immunofluorescence studies of the kidney showed no abnormality in one patient, but showed the presence of IgM in the glomerular basement membrane in the second patient. Hypotension was not observed when anuria occurred. Both patients survived. The importance of prolonged haemodialysis is stressed, since one patient was oliguric for 57 days and required intermittent haemodialysis for 5 months, while the second patient was oliguric for 17 days, required haemodialysis for 5 months and now has established hypertension.