[Toxicity of an organic Germanium compound: deleterious consequences of a "natural remedy"]

Reports mainly from Japan, recommend germanium (Ge)-containing compounds as "anti-cancer" and "immunostimulatory" remedies. We report on a 25-tear-old woman with stage II HIV disease who consumed a total of 47 g Ge as Ge-lactate-citrate 18%. She developed severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance 7 ml/min/1.73 m2, proteinuria 0.28 g/d) and hepatomegaly. Biopsies revealed tubulointerstitial nephropathy with vacuolar degeneration, mainly of distal tubular epithelia, and severe liver steatosis. Tissue Ge content in kidney and liver biopsy specimens was increased 68-and 140 fold respectively. In agreement with previous reports, renal dysfunction persisted 9 months later (creatinine clearance 11 ml/min/1.73 m2).