As a new renal fellow I’ve felt fairly comfortable with the list of NSAID associated renal conditions. But after taking care of a patient this past month with fulminant hepatic failure due to a Tylenol overdose it’s been interesting to find that acetaminophen has a bit of a list of it’s own…
1) Acetaminophen induced ATN – Our patient presented after intentionally taking 40 grams of Tylenol in a suicide attempt. On presentation he had sediment and urine chemistries supportive of ATN and subsequently developed fulminant hepatic failure.
Acute tubular necrosis has been reported to occur both in the presence and absence of hepatotoxicity. The mechanism of renal injury has not been well defined. Mouse models suggest a possible role of acetaminophen induced endoplasmic reticulum stress with subsequent renal epithelial cell apoptosis.
Unlike liver injury, there is no evidence that N-Acetylcysteine attenuates renal injury.
2) Analgesic nephropathy – One of the many causes of chronic interstitial nephritis.
Analgesic nephropathy appears to result from chronic exposure to at least two anti-pyretic analgesics (one of which is sometimes acetaminophen) along with caffeine or codeine. On CT the kidneys often have a characteristic shrunken bumpy appearance with accompanying papillary calcifications.
3) Metabolic gap acidosis secondary to 5-Oxoproline accumulation – 5-Oxoproline is an intermediate metabolite in the gamma-glutamyl cycle shown below in a figure from a nice review in CJASN.
The gamma-glutamyl cycle produces glutathione, which is important in the conjugation and urinary excretion of the acetaminophen metabolite NAPQI.
5-Oxoproline accumulation is hypothesized to occur through a variety of mechanisms. Chronic acetaminophen ingestion may lead to a depletion of intracellular glutathione stores. This leads to lack of feedback inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, which in turn leads to a rise in gamma-glutamylcysteine which is partially converted to 5-Oxoproline.
Malnourishment may play a role by leading to decreases in hepatic glutothione stores. There is possibly some difference between male and female enzyme activity in the gamma-glutamyl cycle that accounts for the female predominance of reported cases and renal dysfunction may lead to a decrease in 5-Oxoproline excretion.
Recognition of this rare entity is key as stopping of acetaminophen often leads to resolution of acidosis. N-acetycysteine has been used in a couple of cases successfully. It theoretically assists by increasing intracellular glutothione stores.
Graham Abra, MD
1) Acetaminophen induced ATN – Our patient presented after intentionally taking 40 grams of Tylenol in a suicide attempt. On presentation he had sediment and urine chemistries supportive of ATN and subsequently developed fulminant hepatic failure.
Acute tubular necrosis has been reported to occur both in the presence and absence of hepatotoxicity. The mechanism of renal injury has not been well defined. Mouse models suggest a possible role of acetaminophen induced endoplasmic reticulum stress with subsequent renal epithelial cell apoptosis.
Unlike liver injury, there is no evidence that N-Acetylcysteine attenuates renal injury.
2) Analgesic nephropathy – One of the many causes of chronic interstitial nephritis.
Analgesic nephropathy appears to result from chronic exposure to at least two anti-pyretic analgesics (one of which is sometimes acetaminophen) along with caffeine or codeine. On CT the kidneys often have a characteristic shrunken bumpy appearance with accompanying papillary calcifications.
3) Metabolic gap acidosis secondary to 5-Oxoproline accumulation – 5-Oxoproline is an intermediate metabolite in the gamma-glutamyl cycle shown below in a figure from a nice review in CJASN.
The gamma-glutamyl cycle produces glutathione, which is important in the conjugation and urinary excretion of the acetaminophen metabolite NAPQI.5-Oxoproline accumulation is hypothesized to occur through a variety of mechanisms. Chronic acetaminophen ingestion may lead to a depletion of intracellular glutathione stores. This leads to lack of feedback inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, which in turn leads to a rise in gamma-glutamylcysteine which is partially converted to 5-Oxoproline.
Malnourishment may play a role by leading to decreases in hepatic glutothione stores. There is possibly some difference between male and female enzyme activity in the gamma-glutamyl cycle that accounts for the female predominance of reported cases and renal dysfunction may lead to a decrease in 5-Oxoproline excretion.
Recognition of this rare entity is key as stopping of acetaminophen often leads to resolution of acidosis. N-acetycysteine has been used in a couple of cases successfully. It theoretically assists by increasing intracellular glutothione stores.
Graham Abra, MD
Excellent post! Interestingly, there is recent evidence, at least in rats, that when acetaminophen is given at therapeutic plasma concentrations, it attenuates rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI by decreasing oxidative damage. (Boutaud et al, PNAS, 2010)
ReplyDeleteVery interesting. It would be nice to someday add something to the renal acetaminophen therapeutic column.
ReplyDeleteIts wonderful to know that such a great mind is working and researching ailments that affect us all.
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