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Drugs and AKI

O Liangos1

  • 1Klinikum Coburg, III. Med. Klinik, Coburg, Germany. liangos_o@hotmail.com

Minerva Urologica E Nefrologica = the Italian Journal of Urology and Nephrology
|March 10, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Drug-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a significant concern in hospitalized patients. This review details the role of various medications, including aminoglycosides and NSAIDs, in causing AKI.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Pharmacology
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality.
  • Common causes include impaired renal perfusion, ischemia-reperfusion injury, sepsis, and urinary tract obstruction, often with multifactorial etiology.
  • Nephrotoxic medications play a crucial role in the development of AKI.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the general importance of drug-related acute kidney injury.
  • To provide an in-depth review of specific drug classes implicated in AKI.
  • To offer an overview of drug-induced AKI, highlighting recently emerged or generally important agents.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on drug-induced acute kidney injury.
  • Selection and in-depth discussion of seven key drug classes: aminoglycosides, aristolochic acid, cytostatic drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), osmotic agents, radiocontrast, and phosphate salts.
  • Analysis of epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical features, and treatment for each selected drug class.

Main Results:

  • Drug-induced AKI is a significant contributor to overall AKI incidence in hospitalized populations.
  • Detailed insights into the mechanisms, clinical presentation, and management strategies for specific nephrotoxic agents were provided.
  • The review emphasizes the clinical relevance of understanding drug-induced nephrotoxicity.

Conclusions:

  • Nephrotoxic medications are an important, often overlooked, cause of acute kidney injury.
  • Understanding the specific properties of drugs like NSAIDs and aminoglycosides is critical for prevention and management.
  • This review provides a valuable resource for clinicians managing patients at risk of drug-induced AKI.

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