Category: Toxicology

  • Nephrotoxics

    Working along the nephron …

    PRE-RENAL

    • antihypertensives
      diuretics

    SMALL VESSEL DISEASE

    Haemodynamic

    • NSAIDs
      ACE-I, ARBs
      radio-contrast
      cyclosporin, tacrolimus
      noradrenaline, cocaine

    Thrombotic microangiopathic

    • cyclosporin, tacrolimus
      mitomycin C
      clopidogrel
      quinine
      oral contraceptives

    GLOMERULAR DISEASE

    Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis

    • D-penicillamine
      hydralazine
      propylthiouracil
      organic solvents
      silica compounds
      amphetamines

    ACUTE TUBULAR NECROSIS

    • amphotericin
      aminoglycosides
      cisplatin
      ifosfamide
      paracetamol
      heavy metals
      herbal remedies
      radio-contrast agents
      pentamide
      organic solvents
      herbicides (paraquat)
      intravenous immunoglobulin

    INTRATUBULAR OBSTRUCTION

    • crystal formation
      acyclovir
      ethylene glycol
      sulphonamide antibiotics
      methotrexate
      indinavir
      triamterene

    ACUTE ALLERGIC INTERSTITIAL NEPHRITIS

    • Proton-pump inhibitors
      Antibiotcs – penicillins, cephalosporins, rifampicin, sulfamethoxazole, ciprofloxacin
      NSAIDs
      Loop and thiazide diuretics
      allopurinol
      cimetidine
      mesalazine
      analgesics

    POST-RENAL OBSTRUCTION

    • Papillary necrosis – NSAIDs, compound analgesics
      Urinary retention – anticholinergics, tricyclic antidepressants
    For clarity, blood vessels not shown
    The nephron: a single renal unit spans the kidney cortex and medulla

    Renal blood flow: Urine is this blood, after having been first filtered and then modified. [Wikimedia Commons]

    Blood is filtered at the glomerulus
    Filtered blood (urine) is modified by clever use of a counter-current mechanism
    Nephron molar solute transport [Wikimedia Commons]

    Renal conservation of bicarbonate [Wikimedia Commons]