ANTICOAGULANTS IN "IRREVERSIBLE" ACUTE RENAL FAILURE

6 consecutive cases of oliguric renal failure shown histologically to be due to glomerulonephritis or obstructive lesions in arterioles and glomeruli improved considerably following continuous high-dose infusion of heparin, which was given in addition to steroids and immunosuppressive drugs. The prompt improvement in renal function which followed heparin infusion suggests that this method of treatment may have some direct effect on the underlying lesion as has been demonstrated in animals. 2 patients died from diffuse vascular lesions in other organs, but 4 were well at two to nine months after the onset of the renal failure, with blood-urea levels between 23 and 40 mg. per 100 ml.