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Nephrotoxicity of cyclosporine in humans: effect of cyclosporine on glomerular filtration and proximal tubular reabsorption

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Summary

The chronic nephrotoxic effects of cyclosporine (CsA) include proximal tubular atrophy and vacuolization. This study investigated the effect of CsA on renal hemodynamics and segmental electrolyte transport in CsA-treated patients. The clearance of inulin (CIn) and PAH para-amino-hippuric acid (CPAH) was determined; proximal tubular function was studied using a lithium clearance method and calculating tubular phosphate reabsorption per milliliter of glomerular filtrate (TP/CIn). Twenty patients without renal disease were investigated: ten treated with CsA because of nonrenal grafting (group 1) and ten healthy volunteers (group 2). The results obtained were compared with those from 20 renal allograft recipients, of whom ten were treated with CsA and methylprednisolone (group 3) and ten with azathioprine and methylprednisolone (group 4). CIn and CPAH were significantly impaired in patients treated with CsA. No significant impairment of lithium clearance as induced by CsA was observed. The fractional excretion of lithium was slightly increased in patients treated with CsA compared to their respective controls. TP/CIn was lower in graft recipients compared to controls; no impairment of phosphate reabsorption as induced by CsA was found. The fractional tubular excretion of lithium was slightly increased compared to controls, rising evidence that proximal tubular reabsorption of lithium was decreased. Tubular reabsorption of phosphate was not impaired. The decrease in glomerular filtration and renal perfusion during chronic treatment with CsA was accompanied by a reduced proximal reabsorptive capacity, as was shown by lithium clearance. Our data do not support the hypothesis that functional parameters of the proximal tubular system can be used as indicators of CsA-induced nephrotoxicity.

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Abbreviations

CIn :

inulin clearance

CLi :

lithium clearance

CPAH:

clearance of para-aminohippuric acid

CPO4 :

phosphate clearance

Aza:

azathioprine

CsA:

cyclosporine A

GFR:

glomerular filtration rate

MP:

methylprednisolone

TmP:

threshold phosphate concentration

TP/CIn :

tubular phosphate reabsorption/ml inulin clearance

TP/GFR:

tubular phosphate reabsorption/ml glomerular filtration rate

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Author notes

  1. P. Heering

    Present address: Medizinische Klinik and Poliklinik Klinik für Nephrologie, Heinrich Heine-Universität, Moorenstrasse 5, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinik für Nephrologie, Heinrich Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

    P. Heering, D. Bach & B. Grabensee

  2. Diabetisches Forschungsinstitut, Abteilung für Klinische Biochemie, Heinrich Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Germany

    P. Schadewaldt

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  1. P. Heering
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  4. B. Grabensee
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Supported by a grant from the A. Krupp von Bohlen und Halbach Foundation, D-45133 Essen, Germany

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Heering, P., Schadewaldt, P., Bach, D. et al. Nephrotoxicity of cyclosporine in humans: effect of cyclosporine on glomerular filtration and proximal tubular reabsorption. Clin Investig 71, 1010–1015 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180033

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00180033

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