Renal Toxicity of Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs

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Abstract
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs represent the most heavily prescribed and used class of drugs in human medicine. Most are derivatives of either salicylates, propionic acid, indoleacetic acid, anthranilic acid, pyrazolone, or oxicams. They depress the synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid by reversible inhibition of the enzyme cyclooxygenase. In the kidney, prostaglandins PGE2 and PGI2 modulate the vasoconstrictor effects of angiotensin II, norepinephrine, and vasopressin. In the presence of volume contraction, anesthesia, or disease states associated with high levels of these hormones, prostaglandins regulate glomerular filtration, vascular resistance, and renin secretion. They additionally influence urine volume and sodium content. In man, a syndrome of analgesic abuse that has been identified worldwide occurs more frequently in females than males and can result in severe renal damage, most notably renal papillary necrosis. Most common laboratory animals are relatively resistant to developing the renal lesion associated with NSAIDs unless high doses are given over long periods of time and some withholding of water is introduced into the protocol. Diuresis with 5% dextrose and water is protective. Studies of paracematol and salicylate have demonstrated that these compounds concentrate in the papillary tip of the kidney at concentrations of 4 to 13 times the plasma levels in dogs and rabbits, respectively. Renal papillary necrosis has been described in horses on maintenance doses of phenylbutazone where dehydration or reduced water consumption has occurred. The lesion can be reproduced experimentally if water is withheld during a portion of the dosing interval. An increased incidence of uroepithelial tumors have been reported in patients with a history of analgesic abuse. Mixtures containing phenacetin appear to have been at fault. However, carcinogenicity studies with phenacetin have yielded inconsistent results in laboratory animals.