Anuria Secondary to Renovascular Disease

A patient with a solitary kidney had acute renal failure secondary to thrombosis of the renal artery. Physicians should be aware that occlusive renal artery disease is a potentially reversible cause of acute renal failure. Although early diagnosis and correction are desirable, it is difficult to establish rigid time limits for reversible renal damage. Since there is adequate clinical evidence that the kidney may regain significant function upon relief of prolonged ischemia, an aggressive approach should be taken in this situation.