IgA nephropathy and acute reversible renal failure.

Macroscopic hematuria, severe oliguria for 9 days, and azotemia requiring a period of hemodialysis treatment developed in a young woman. Renal biopsy during the acute episode showed IgA nephropathy with blockage of tubules by red cell casts and tubular epithelial cell damage. Renal function recovered spontaneously. The severity of the renal failure was unique, and this syndrome should be added to the other known causes of acute reversible renal failure.