Amphotericin is one of those medications which keeps nephrologists in business by virtue of its predictable nephrotoxic effects. The mechanism of amphotericin-induced renal failure is felt to be acute tubular necrosis (ATN); the drug binds to sterols in cell membranes, creating pores that destroy the plasma membrane--both the fungal plasma membrane as well as renal epithelial cell plasma membranes, which is felt to be the mechanism of its nephroxocity. Amphotericin-induced renal failure is dose-related and rarely develops unless the total dose exceeds 2gm.
In addition to ATN, amphotericin has other notable renal side effects as well: the drug can cause distal (Type I) renal tubular acidosis, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, and renal potassium and magnesium wasting as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Renal Fellow Network encourages comments and discussion regarding the posts. Do not post any comments that are commercial or advertising in nature. Posts will be deleted if commercial or advertising comments are made. Internet users commenting on the Renal Fellow Network must post information which is true and correct to their knowledge. Sources to health/medical claims must be provided when relevant. Moderators reserve the right to erase, without notification, any comment they would judge inappropriate.