Intravascular haemolysis and acute renal failure following potassium dichromate poisoning

Abstract

An 18-year-old girl developed acute renal failure 24 hr after ingestion of potassium dichromate. Laboratory data revealed associated intravascular haemolysis. Renal histology showed features suggestive of acute tubular necrosis. She went into diuretic phase after 11 days of oliguria and subsequently regained normal renal function. Both direct toxic damage by dichromate and intravascular haemolysis may have contributed to the development of acute tubular necrosis and acute renal failure. © 1978 The Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine.