[Lesions of the kidney and the efferent urinary tract due to cantharidine]

5 cases of cantharidin intoxication are reported. 4 patients had used cantharidin as an aphrodisiac and one to induce abortion. All presented with urinary tract symptoms. Four patients had gross hematuria. In one case non-oliguric renal failure occurred, with increase of plasma creatinine to 5.6 mg/100 ml. renal biopsy was performed in 2 cases. On light and electron microscopy glomerula showed only minimal changes such as podocyte swelling. The tubuli were markedly altered, with luminal enlargement, intraluminal cell debris, flattening and shrinking of the epithelial cells and distortion of brush borders. Whereas all 5 patients recovered completely, some deaths due to cantharidin poisoning have been reported in the literature. Since cantharidin is markedly toxic, its use in humans should be strongly discouraged.