What does it mean to be nephrotoxic?

What does it mean to be nephrotoxic?

Listen to pronunciation. (NEH-froh-TOK-sik) Poisonous or damaging to the kidney.

What are signs of nephrotoxicity?

If severe enough, nephrotoxicity can show signs of other types of decreased kidney function, such as decreased urination, swelling from fluid retention and high blood pressure. In some patients, nephrotoxicity can also affect other body systems such as the liver or the skin and show signs in those areas as well.

What are the major nephrotoxic drug classifications?

Certain drugs are inherently nephrotoxic and include aminoglycosides, amphotericin B, cisplatin, contrast dye, and cyclosporine. For others, such as those associated with chronic interstitial nephritis and crystal deposition, nephrotoxicity is dose dependant or related to prolonged duration of treatment.

What things are nephrotoxic?

Other nephrotoxins

• Lead, mercury and cadmium salts.
• Aristolochic acid, found in some plants and in some herbal supplements derived from those plants, has been shown to have nephrotoxic effects on humans.
• Rhubarb contains some nephrotoxins which can cause inflammation of the kidneys in some people.

What causes nephrotoxic?

Nephrotoxicity can be defined as the adverse effect of substances on renal function (Perazella, 2009). These substances can include molds and fungi, cancer therapeutics such as cisplatin, antibiotics such as aminoglycosides, metals such as mercury, arsenic and lead, and drugs of abuse such as cocaine.

How does nephrotoxicity happen?

Nephrotoxicity or renal toxicity can be a result of hemodynamic changes, direct injury to cells and tissue, inflammatory tissue injury, and/or obstruction of renal excretion. Nephrotoxicity is frequently induced by a wide spectrum of therapeutic drugs and environmental pollutants.

What causes nephrotoxicity?

Why is nephrotoxicity important?

The nephrotoxic effect of most drugs is more profound in patients already suffering from kidney failure. About 20% of nephrotoxicity is induced and caused by drugs; this percentage is augmented in the elderly due to an increase in the life span and poly-medications.

How does nephrotoxicity affect the kidneys?

What Is Nephrotoxicity (Renal Toxicity)? Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common kidney problems and occurs when your body is exposed to a drug or toxin that causes damage to your kidneys. When kidney damage occurs, you are unable to rid your body of excess urine, and wastes.

How do you assess nephrotoxicity?

Nephrotoxicity can be diagnosed through a simple blood test. Evaluation of nephrotoxicity through blood tests includes the measurements of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), concentration of serum creatinine, glomerular filtration rate and creatinine clearance.

How do you prevent nephrotoxicity?

Useful strategies to avoid nephrotoxicity from these drugs include using analgesics with less prostaglandin activity (acetaminophen, aspirin, sulindac, and nabumetone), correcting volume depletion before starting the drug, and monitoring renal function and vital signs when starting or increasing the dose of the drug.