DIAGNOSTIC INDICES IN ACUTE RENAL FAILURE

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  • 1 January 1967
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 96  (2) , 78-+
Abstract
The urine/plasma creatinine ratio (U/P Cr), the urine sodium concentration (UNa), and the diuretic response to mannitol Infusion in 23 patients were reviewed In an attempt to differentiate functional renal failure (FRF) from acute tubular necrosis (ATN). FRF was diagnosed if the plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) or serum creatinine stabilized within 72 hours. When renal failure persisted longer, patients had ATN. Subjects dying within 72 hours were excluded. Ten patients had ATN and 5 survived. The minimum duration of renal failure among survivors was 10 days. None responded to mannitol. Of 13 patients with FRF, 11 survived. Seven oj 12 who received mannitol responded with a diuresis. The mean UNa in the patients with ATN was 51.4 mEq./l. [plus or minus] 9.48 (SE). The mean U/P Cr was 11.2 [plus or minus]1.12. In patients with FRF, the mean UNa was 14.0 mEq./l. [plus or minus] 4.2 and the mean U/P Cr was 42.5 [plus or minus] 11.5. A significant group overlap was present between the two groups. When UNa was factored by the U/P Cr, the resultant ratio was significantly different for the two groups of patients (P < 0.01), and this proved to be a useful clinical index with which to distinguish FRF from established ATN.