Acute renal failure in sickle cell anemia.

We performed a case-control study of acute renal failure (ARF) in patients hospitalized with sickle cell anemia (SCA). Twelve of the 116 patients (10.3%) whose records were suitable for analysis were diagnosed as having ARF based on a minimum of doubling of their serum creatinine levels (mean rise was 205 +/- 49%). ARF patients were more likely to have been admitted with infection and had a lower mean hemoglobin level than the control group. Volume depletion was the most common identifiable cause for ARF. Two of 3 patients with severe ARF received dialytic support. Ten of 12 ARF patients survived and subsequently had recovery of renal function.