Chronic renal failure in Khartoum, Sudan

A study of the clinical presentation and conceivable causes of chronic renal failure (CRF) in 61 Sudanese patients in Khartoum is presented. The clinical features involved almost all the systems, however, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular signs and symptoms predominated. The causes of chronic renal failure in Sudan and Sweden are also studied for comparison. The causes of CRF in Sudan are chronic glomerulonephritis, obstructive nephropathy (stone disease), hypertension and diabetes mellitus in that order. The main causes of CRF in Sweden are chronic glomerulonephritis, diabetes mellitus and chronic pyelonephritis. Of the 61 Sudanese patients 16 have kidney transplants, only one in Sudan, three patients are on regular hemodialysis, nine patients are on intermittent peritoneal dialysis, 16 are on conservative treatment and 17 died during the course of treatment.