Renal cortical necrosis in pregnancy-related acute renal failure

Of 63 patients of obstetrical acute renal failure, 15 cases (23.8%) had biopsy proven bilateral renal cortical necrosis. Remaining 48 patients (76.2%) had acute tubular necrosis. Eight of 39 cases in early pregnancy had cortical necrosis (postabortum) and 7 of 24 patients in late pregnancy revealed cortical necrosis. Diffuse and patchy cortical necroses were seen in 12 and 3 patients respectively. The incidence of cortical necrosis was almost equal in both early as well as late pregnancies. The high incidence (20.5%) of cortical necrosis following septic abortion remains the interesting feature of the present study in contrast to very low incidence (1.5%) of cortical necrosis in postabortum group in developed countries. The death occurred in most patients (14 ie, 93.3%) of cortical necrosis because of uraemic complications and sepsis.