[Acute renal failure during indomethacin treatment. 6 cases (author's transl)]

Acute renal failure (ARF) was observed in 6 patients under indomethacin treatment. Before receiving the drug 3 patients had normal, and the other 3 slightly elevated plasma creatinine levels. All patients were also treated with diuretics. ARF developed within the first 48 hours of therapy. Four patients had clear-cut oliguria. The renal disorders proved completely and rapidly reversible after treatment was discontinued, except in one female patient who had to undergo peritoneal dialysis for 12 days and in whom moderate aggravation of the pre-existing renal insufficiency persisted on follow up. The ARF was attributed to a sudden fall in renal blood flow due to the inhibitory effect of indomethacin on prostaglandin synthetase. This complication occurs exclusively in patients with renal hypoperfusion secondary to hypovolaemia, with cardiac insufficiency or with intrarenal vascular lesions. Sodium depletion induced by previous or concomitant diuretic treatment increases the risks. The possibility of ARF warrants careful monitoring of urinary output and renal function at the onset of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory therapy in patients with altered or precarious haemodynamics.