The pathogenetic significance of intravascular coagulation in experimental acute renal failure

Serum and urine fibrin(ogen) degradation products (FDP), FDP clearances, and serum urea nitrogen (SUN) concentrations of rats challenged with glycerol-induced myohemoglobinuria were measured serially over a period of 4 days. The results obtained in animals that developed acute renal failure (ARF) were compared with those obtained in rats made refractory to renal failure by long-term salt loading or recent recovery from prior renal failure. Only the rats susceptible to ARF experienced a major rise in serum FDP concentration. Urine FDP excretion rose most markedly in the same rats but, being elevated in all groups. showed the utilization of fibrinogen whether serum FDP values increased or not. The results obtained might reflect differences in the degree of intravascular coagulation which are pathogenetically important. It is possible, however, that increased serum FDP concentrations found exclusively in rats with ARF are the results rather than the cause of impaired filtration, and that reduced tubular absorption may at least partly account for the high urinary FDP excretion observed in this model of experimental acute renal failure.