Nifedipine and amphotericin B nephrotoxicity in the rat

Amphotericin B nephrotoxicity limits its therapeutic use. The mechanisms involved in the deleterious effect on the kidney include a preglomerular vasoconstriction. Nifedipine, a calcium antagonist which acts also on the afferent arteriolar tone, did not, however, prevent renal impairment in the rats of our study. This could be due either to a negligible role of the hemodynamic changes in the development of renal failure or to a lack of efficacy of nifedipine on the vasoconstrictor mechanism induced by amphotericin B.