Objective: To investigate the incidence and prognosis of drug-induced acute renal failure (ARF) in Shanghai.
Methods: The registration forms of ARF patients admitted in 17 hospitals of and over the middle class in Shanghai from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2006 were screened prospectively. The data, such as epidemiology, survival, mortality, and morbidity were analyzed.
Results: 347 of the 1200 ARF patients (28.9%), 224 males and 123 females, aged (58+/-20), suffered from drug-induced ARF. 51.0% of the 347 patients were older than 60. 60.2% of the drug-induced ARF in the non-surgical departments were community-acquired, while 55.7% of the drug-induced ARF in the surgical departments were hospital-acquired. Among the non-surgical departments, the incidence of hospital-acquired drug-induced ARF was the lowest in the department of nephrology (9.5%), while higher in the departments of hematology, cardiology, and neurology, and among the surgical departments, it was the lowest in department of renal surgery, while higher in the departments of liver transplantation, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular surgery. The most common complication was chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n=69, 19.9%), followed by cerebrovascular disease (n=59, 17.0%), diabetes mellitus (n=43, 12.4%), and hypertension (n=41, 11.8%). Renal biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis (18, 37.5%), acute interstitial nephritis (11, 22.9%), and acute infectious tubulo-interstitial nephritis (6, 12.5%). Antibiotics (47.8%) were the head causes of drug-induced ARF, especially aminoglycoside (17.0%) and cephalosporins (12.7%), followed by diuretics (22.2%) and radiocontrasts (13.3%). 22.5% of the drug-induced ARF patients had used two or more drugs. 119 patients (34.3%) needed renal replacement treatment. 100 of the 347 patients (28.8%) died. 188 of the surviving patients (54.2%) had their renal function recovered completely, the renal function of 42 of them (12.1%) was recovered partially, and 17 of then (4.9%) required dialysis when discharged.
Conclusion: Drug-induced ARF is common with higher incidence in the patients with complications. Antibiotics, diuretic agents, and contrast medium are the main causes.