Occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents and parameters for renal dysfunction

To study the nephrotoxic effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents, the early renal effect parameters retinol-binding protein (RBP) and albumin (ALB) were determined in the urine of 11 hospital workers involved in the preparation and administration of antineoplastic agents and in 23 hospital workers not involved in drug handling, who served as nonexposed controls. No significant difference was found between the exposed group and the nonexposed control group with respect to the early renal effect parameters RBP and ALB. Although it was demonstrated that the hospital workers were exposed to cyclophosphamide (CP) and probably other antineoplastic agents, the results of the present study show that these exposure levels did not cause nephrotoxic effects.