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Opioids and the kidney: two sides of the same coin

Shaowei Gao1, Qiulan He1

  • 1Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.

Frontiers in Pharmacology
|August 13, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Opioid agonists present a complex, dualistic effect on kidney health, offering both protective and detrimental impacts. Understanding these paradoxical roles is crucial for developing new therapies for kidney injury.

Area of Science:

  • Nephrology
  • Pharmacology
  • Pathophysiology

Background:

  • Renal dysfunction, including acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), poses significant health challenges.
  • Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a key factor in the development and progression of renal dysfunction, impacting kidney transplantation.
  • The role of opioid agonists in renal health is debated, with existing reviews offering limited, isolated perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a balanced and comprehensive evaluation of the literature on opioid agonists' effects on renal health.
  • To address the gap in current reviews by examining both nephroprotective and nephrotoxic aspects of opioids.
  • To elucidate the complex interactions and paradoxical effects of opioids in renal pathophysiology.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review and analysis.
  • Examination of existing studies on opioid agonists and renal function.
  • Dissection of paradoxical effects and complex interactions.

Main Results:

  • Opioid agonists exhibit a dualistic influence on renal health, demonstrating both protective and detrimental effects.
  • The "two sides of the same coin" phenomenon highlights the complex and often contradictory roles of opioids.
  • Existing research provides fragmented views, necessitating a holistic examination.

Conclusions:

  • A thorough understanding of opioids' intricate roles in renal pathophysiology is vital.
  • This comprehensive analysis can inform the development of novel therapeutic strategies for hypoxic kidney injury.
  • Further research is needed to harness beneficial effects and mitigate adverse impacts of opioids on kidney health.
Keywords:
acute renal failurechronic kidney diseaseischemia-reperfusion injurykidneyopioid receptorrenal function

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