Diuresis, glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption (endogenous creatinine clearance), renal blood and plasma flow, total resistance of renal vessels, and filtration fraction were measured in 59 patients with mechanical (strangulation) asphyxia. Asphyxia and resulting hypoxia induced a substantial increase of diuresis, glomerular filtration and a decrease of tubular reabsorption. Disorders of renal hemodynamics which involved a decrease of renal plasma and blood flow and an increase of total resistance of renal vessels contributed significantly to the mechanism of changes of the renal excretory function. As shown by vasographic and morphological examinations, the state of intrarenal hemodynamics plays the major role in changes of the renal function.