RESUMO
Objective To study the etiology, clinical and pathological characteristics, therapy and prognosis of acute renal failure (ARF). Methods The literature of 80 treated children with ARF from 1988. 1 to 2003.10 was reviewed. Results Sixty three cases (78.8%)suffered from mtrarenal ARF;47 glomerulonephritls (58. 8%); 15(18. 8%)prerenal ARF;2(2 5%)postrenal obstructive ARF. Twenty three cases with renal biopsy,9(39. 1%)MsPGN;4 (17. 4% ) MPGN; 4 (17. 4%) crescentic glomerulonephntis; 3 (13% ) endocapillary glomerulonephritls;2(8 7% )proliferative and sclerosing glomerulonephritis; 1(1. 3% )minimal changes. According to the different etiologic and pathological characteristics,different therapies were applied,infusion,oral prednisone ,and intravenous pulses of methylprednisone and cyclosphosphamide ,dialysis, or diuretic therapy and lowering blood. Thirty one (38. 8% )cases recov-ered;27(33 8% )cases improved; 10( 12.5% ) cases gave up treatments;21 (26 3% )died. The mortality of ARF from 1996 to 2003 was significantly lower than that from 1988 to 1995(x2 = 7.85 P