The occurrence of renal scleroderma (RSc) was sought retrospectively in 36 consecutive patients with scleroderma, seen in a single rheumatology unit, over a 12-year period. The diagnosis RSc was considered when at least one of the following findings was present: systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 95 mmH, proteinuria greater than or equal to 0.5 gr/24 hr., and creatinine clearance less than or equal to 50 ml/min.: at least one of these features was found in 16 patients. Hypertension was the most frequent feature of RSc (15 out of 16 patients). Two forms of hypertension were observed. Firstly: malignant hypertension occurring early in the course of RSc, seen in 5 patients, 4 of whom rapidly developed terminal renal insufficiency. Secondly: a moderate hypertension, seen in 10 patients with a more favourable outcome, occurring on average 53 months after the diagnosis of scleroderma was made. Proteinuria was only seen in association with malignant hypertension. Renal impairment occurred in 7 patients. Of the 36 patients with scleroderma, 14 died; 10 of these 14 patients had RSc. Thus the death rate in patients with RSc was very high, whereas only 4 out of 20 died in the group without RSc.