Renal failure in symptomatic perinatal asphyxia

The study included seven term newborns developing acute renal failure due to symptomatic perinatal asphyxia in early neonatal period. Its diagnosis was based on clinical and biochemical indices. Urinary output, serum and urinary sodium, potassium and creatinine, and blood urea nitrogen were evaluated in all of them. All the patients had oliguria not responding to fluid challenge and/or diuretic therapy, high serum K, FeNa of greater than 2.5% and RFI of greater than 3 indicative of intrinsic renal disease. The condition was associated with a very high mortality.