Postpartum Renal Failure

THE syndrome of postpartum renal failure, recognized since 1968, is an idiopathic condition characterized by renal failure in association with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and, usually, thrombocytopenia occurring within a few days to approximately 10 weeks after an apparently normal pregnancy and delivery.1 , 2 This syndrome is regarded as distinct from acute renal failure occurring in the third trimester of pregnancy or within 48 hours of delivery because of obstetric complications, such as abruptio placentae, postpartum hemorrhage, amniotic-fluid embolism, puerperal sepsis, and eclampsia.3 Since the idiopathic condition is characterized by clinically overt symptoms occurring at least three or more days after an . . .