Acute renal failure after massive ingestion of gliclazide in a suicide attempt

Gliclazide, a sulfonlyurea class molecule, is used to control glycaemic levels in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Acute and chronic toxicity studies, conducted in various animal species, have demonstrated a very low toxicity. We report a patient who developed acute renal failure due to acute tubular necrosis following a massive ingestion of gliclazide in an suicide attempt. The patient ingested 28 grams of gliclazide; the normal dose of gliclazide is 80 mg one or twice a day. At admission the patient was hypoglycaemia and in a few days became oliguric with an increase in the serum creatinine concentration, but with a normal blood urea nitrogen level. He underwent dialysis and ten days after ingestion of gliclazide, his renal function improved rapidly.