Recovery of kidney function following prolonged acute renal failure

Twenty-two patients with prolonged acute renal failure (ARF), successfully treated by haemodialysis, were analysed. The clinical course was oliguric in 16 and non-oliguric in 6 cases. Twenty-seven haemodialyses on average (15-54) during a mean duration of 66.9 (30-172) days were needed for recovery of kidney function. Overall, maximum improvement of renal function was achieved within 116.4 (51-259) days, in oligo-anuric cases within 80.1 (51-208) days, in non-oliguric cases within 160.3 (90-259) days. In the latter group pre-existing renal damage was probably the cause of the more extended duration of acute renal failure.