Early postpartum disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) was demonstrated by serial coagulation studies in 10 cases of acute renal failure (ARF) following obstetric complications (6 abruptio placentae, 3 retained placental fragments, 1 prolonged intrauterine fetal death). DIC abated within 48 hours irrespective of the therapeutic schedules employed. Renal damage was evidenced by a varying number of days of oligoanuric (6 cases) or polyuric (4 cases) ARF which always required dialytic treatment. Full renal recovery occurred in 9 cases. One patient died and no histological studies were performed. Renal damage seemed to correlate less with DIC than with the degree of anemia and shock.