McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome: acute renal failure by a colorectal adenoma. A case study.

A case of acute renal failure because of chronic watery diarrhoea is presented. The cause is a secretory villous adenoma. The triad chronic diarrhoea, electrolyte disturbance and prerenal renal failure due to a villous adenoma, known as the McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome is a rare entity. The patient can evolve to acute renal failure, shock and death. Initially, the patient is medically treated to restore the fluid and electrolyte balance, but the surgical removal of the polyp is necessary to obtain a definite recovery.