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Effects of acute and chronic acyclovir on canine renal function
A S Kimes1, K Kumor, K McCullough
1Division of Renal Medicine, Francis Scott Key Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland.
Summary
Acyclovir can impair kidney function, even in healthy animals. High doses caused more significant renal dysfunction than lower, prolonged doses, suggesting dose and duration impact kidney health.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Pharmacology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Acyclovir-associated renal dysfunction is challenging to study in humans due to confounding factors.
- Renal side effects of acyclovir are infrequent and difficult to isolate in clinical settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of two distinct acyclovir dosing regimens on renal function in a canine model.
- To compare the renal impact of short-term high-dose versus chronic low-dose acyclovir administration.
Main Methods:
- Two acyclovir regimens were administered to dogs: short-term high dose (210 mg/kg/day for 43 hr) and chronic low dose (15 mg/kg thrice daily for 28 days).
- Selected renal functions, including urine concentrating capacity, glomerular filtration rate, and plasma potassium, were assessed.
- Renal response to vasopressin was evaluated to identify the site of dysfunction.
Main Results:
- Both acyclovir regimens significantly reduced urine concentrating capacity (40% and 36% decline, respectively).
- Glomerular filtration rate decreased significantly only during the short-term high-dose treatment.
- Both regimens caused a small but significant decline in plasma potassium levels.
Conclusions:
- Acyclovir can induce renal dysfunction in healthy animals at clinically relevant plasma concentrations.
- The short-term high-dose regimen was more detrimental to renal function than the chronic low-dose regimen.
- Acyclovir-induced renal dysfunction appears to be a dose- and duration-dependent effect, not solely due to rare sensitivity.