Drug-induced Kidney Disease: Revisited

Anirban Ganguli1, Narinder Pal Singh2

  • 1Staff Nephrologist and Research Physician, Kidney Disease Branch, National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America, Corresponding Author.

Insights

Drug-induced kidney disease (DIKD) is a common cause of kidney damage. Early detection and stopping the offending drug are key to preventing irreversible harm.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Pharmacology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Drug-induced kidney disease (DIKD) is a significant contributor to acute and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
  • Emerging therapies, particularly in cancer immunotherapy, necessitate updated knowledge on DIKD.
  • DIKD leads to substantial morbidity, hospitalizations, and healthcare expenses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and synthesize current understanding of DIKD mechanisms and management.
  • To highlight the importance of updated knowledge in the context of new drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on drug-induced kidney disease.
  • Analysis of common pathophysiological pathways across various causative agents.
  • Synthesis of current management strategies for DIKD.

Main Results:

  • Identified common DIKD mechanisms: direct toxicity, immune-mediated injury, and altered renal blood flow.
  • Emphasized the need for continuous knowledge updates due to novel therapeutics.
  • Highlighted the critical role of early detection and intervention.

Conclusions:

  • Effective DIKD management requires risk minimization, early diagnosis, and prompt drug cessation.
  • Understanding shared mechanisms aids in generalizing DIKD pathways from diverse agents.
  • Proactive approaches are essential to prevent irreversible renal damage from medications.

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