Health impact of renal disease due to nephrotoxicity

Both acute and chronic renal failure are reported in the context of nephrotoxicity. This overview of some major nephrotoxins reflects both the magnitude and the cost of this preventable health problem. Aminoglycosides and other antibiotics, contrast media and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the best documented nephrotoxins related to acute renal failure. Analgesic nephropathy is the best known drug-induced chronic renal disease. The cost of renal failure due to nephrotoxicity is not easy to compute. Drug-induced acute renal failure costs more than 2750 ECU per patient, depending on whether dialysis is required or not, and chronic renal failure costs at least 128,000,000 ECU annually in the European Communities. Recent epidemiological evidence, however, indicates that the cost may be even higher.