Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

Passaging HuES Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines with Trypsin.
09:38

Passaging HuES Human Embryonic Stem Cell-lines with Trypsin.

Published on: October 12, 2006

The toxic effects of amphotericin B in man

C W HOLEMAN, H EINSTEIN

    California Medicine
    |August 1, 1963
    PubMed

    Insights

    Amphotericin B treatment in 47 patients caused kidney damage, azotemia, and hypokalemia in most cases. Anemia was also common, resulting from hemolysis rather than bone marrow issues.

    Area of Science:

    • Nephrology
    • Hematology
    • Pharmacology

    Background:

    • Amphotericin B is a critical antifungal medication.
    • Renal and hematologic toxicity are known side effects.
    • Understanding the precise mechanisms and clinical impact is essential.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To evaluate the renal and hematologic effects of intravenous amphotericin B.
    • To investigate the incidence and nature of renal dysfunction and anemia.
    • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of observed toxicities.

    Main Methods:

    • Retrospective analysis of 47 patients receiving intravenous amphotericin B.
    • Monitoring of renal function (azotemia) and electrolytes (potassium).
    • Microscopic examination of renal tissue and hematologic parameters (red cell indices, bone marrow, red cell survival).

    Main Results:

    • All 47 patients exhibited some renal function impairment.
    • Azotemia occurred in 46 patients; renal tubule damage was observed in 8.
    • Hypokalemia was noted in most patients, and all developed mild to severe anemia due to hemolysis.

    Conclusions:

    • Intravenous amphotericin B frequently causes significant renal impairment, including azotemia and tubular damage.
    • Hypokalemia and hemolysis-leading anemia are common adverse effects.
    • Treatment decisions require careful consideration of disease severity versus potential renal and hematologic toxicity.
    Keywords:
    AMPHOTERICIN BANEMIA, HEMOLYTICHYPOKALEMIAKIDNEY TUBULES

    More Related Videos

    Reduced Itraconazole Concentration and Durations Are Successful in Treating Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection in Amphibians06:49

    Reduced Itraconazole Concentration and Durations Are Successful in Treating Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis Infection in Amphibians

    Published on: March 14, 2014

    Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus12:29

    Live Imaging of Antifungal Activity by Human Primary Neutrophils and Monocytes in Response to A. fumigatus

    Published on: April 19, 2017

    Related Concept Videos

    Physical Properties of Amines01:26

    Physical Properties of Amines

    Amines with low molecular weight are usually gaseous at room temperature, while those with high molecular weight are liquid or solids in nature. Usually, low molecular weight amines have a rotten fish-like smell. Diamines typically have a pungent smell. For instance, cadaverine and putrescine, depicted in Figure 1, are two molecules responsible for decaying tissue.
    Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations01:15

    Determination of Multiple Dosing Parameters: Steady-State, Minimum and Maximum Concentrations

    Gentamicin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic, is commonly administered via intermittent intravenous infusion to treat severe infections. An intermittent one-hour infusion of gentamicin, administered at eight-hour intervals, allows for precise control of plasma drug concentrations, minimizing toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy. Pharmacokinetic principles govern the dynamics of plasma concentrations and can be mathematically described using specific equations.The plasma drug concentration...
    Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity01:25

    Bioactivation and Tissue Toxicity

    Bioactivation is a metabolic process that transforms less reactive substances into highly reactive metabolites, initiating tissue toxicity. This transformation can lead to various toxic effects, including carcinogenesis and teratogenesis. Reactive metabolites are classified into two main types: electrophiles and free radicals.Electrophiles are electron-deficient species and are produced primarily by the enzyme cytochrome P-450 during the metabolism of compounds containing carbon, nitrogen, or...
    Cryptococcal Meningitis01:27

    Cryptococcal Meningitis

    Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
    Antifungal Agents01:15

    Antifungal Agents

    Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
    Antiprotozoal Agents01:21

    Antiprotozoal Agents

    Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...