Effect of flucytosine on renal function in the rat

Flucytosine (5-fluorocytosine), a potent antimycotic drug against various systemic infections such as candidosis, aspergillosis and cryptococcosis, is extensively excreted by the kidneys, yet its possible role in renal function is not known. In the present study flucytosine, administered intravenously, increased significantly renal blood flow (RBF) by 26% from 5.06 +/- 0.9 ml/min/kidney. The renal vasodilation was combined with an elevation of creatinine clearance of 140% from a baseline value of 0.23 +/- 0.11 ml/min/kidney. This improvement in renal function was accompanied by an increase in filtration fraction, urine volume and potassium excretion. In comparison, rats administered an equal amount of 5% glucose only showed no changes in the values of these parameters.