Acute interstitial nephritis due to amoxicillin therapy

Nephrotoxicity of Amoxicillin and Third-Generation Cephalosporins: An Updated Review

Because of their broad-spectrum bactericidal activity, amoxicillin (AMX) and third-generation cephalosporins (TGC) are widely used for the prophylaxis and treatment of established infections. They are considered relatively safe, but several recent reports have suggested substantial nephrotoxicity, especially with AMX use. Considering the importance of AMX and TGC for clinical practice, we conducted this up-to-date review, using the PubMed database, which focuses specifically on the nephrotoxicity of these molecules. We also briefly review the pharmacology of AMX and TGC. Nephrotoxicity of AMX may be driven by several pathophysiological mechanisms, such as a type IV hypersensitivity reaction, anaphylaxis, or intratubular and/or urinary tract drug precipitation. In this review, we focused on the two main renal adverse effects of AMX, namely acute interstitial nephritis and crystal nephropathy. We summarize the current knowledge in terms of incidence, pathogenesis, factors, clinical features, and diagnosis. The purpose of this review is also to underline the probable underestimation of AMX nephrotoxicity and to educate clinicians about the recent increased incidence and severe renal prognosis associated with crystal nephropathy. We also suggest some key elements on the management of these complications to avoid inappropriate use and to limit the risk of nephrotoxicity. While renal injury appears to be rarer with TGC, several patterns of nephrotoxicity have been reported in the literature, such as nephrolithiasis, immune-mediated hemolytic anemia, or acute interstitial nephropathy, which we detail in the second part of this review.

Drug-Induced Lupus Secondary to Ethosuximide in Association with Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis and Nephrotic Syndrome

Background. Drug-induced lupus (DIL) is an autoimmune phenomenon where the patient develops lupus-like symptoms after exposure to a long-term medication. Case Summary. Here we describe a 10-year-old female with absence seizures who developed a lupus-like syndrome after being on ethosuximide for three months. She presented with nephrotic syndrome (NS) and acute kidney injury. Four weeks prior to presentation, she had been prescribed a seven-day course of oral amoxicillin for submental swelling after dental extraction. Investigations showed high titer of antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-double stranded DNA, elevated serum IgE level, and positive Coombs' test, along with positive anti-histone antibodies. Renal biopsy showed features of acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) and partial podocyte foot process effacement without evidence of lupus nephritis. The patient had an excellent response to the steroid therapy with remission within two weeks. The patient remained in remission for two months as evaluated during the most recent follow-up; the autoimmune antibodies and immunoglobulin E trended down. Ethosuximide has been reported to cause DIL, however its possible association with TIN has not been reported. Although amoxicillin could have caused the TIN and NS in this patient, a possible novel association of ethosuximide with this nephrotic-nephritic presentation (NNP) cannot be ruled out. Conclusions. A renal histology is important to determine the accurate etiology of NNP in patients with DIL. Further studies are necessary to determine any possible causal effect of ethosuximide with NNP.

Role of Oxidative Stress in Drug-Induced Kidney Injury

The kidney plays a primary role in maintaining homeostasis and detoxification of numerous hydrophilic xenobiotics as well as endogenous compounds. Because the kidney is exposed to a larger proportion and higher concentration of drugs and toxins than other organs through the secretion of ionic drugs by tubular organic ion transporters across the luminal membranes of renal tubular epithelial cells, and through the reabsorption of filtered toxins into the lumen of the tubule, these cells are at greater risk for injury. In fact, drug-induced kidney injury is a serious problem in clinical practice and accounts for roughly 20% of cases of acute kidney injury (AKI) among hospitalized patients. Therefore, its early detection is becoming more important. Usually, drug-induced AKI consists of two patterns of renal injury: acute tubular necrosis (ATN) and acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). Whereas AIN develops from medications that incite an allergic reaction, ATN develops from direct toxicity on tubular epithelial cells. Among several cellular mechanisms underlying ATN, oxidative stress plays an important role in progression to ATN by activation of inflammatory response via proinflammatory cytokine release and inflammatory cell accumulation in tissues. This review provides an overview of drugs associated with AKI, the role of oxidative stress in drug-induced AKI, and a biomarker for drug-induced AKI focusing on oxidative stress.

Risk of acute kidney injury associated with the use of fluoroquinolones

BACKGROUND

Case reports indicate that the use of fluoroquinolones may lead to acute kidney injury. We studied the association between the use of oral fluoroquinolones and acute kidney injury, and we examined interaction with renin-angiotensin-system blockers.

METHODS

We formed a nested cohort of men aged 40-85 enrolled in the United States IMS LifeLink Health Plan Claims Database between 2001 and 2011. We defined cases as men admitted to hospital for acute kidney injury, and controls were admitted to hospital with a different presenting diagnosis. Using risk-set sampling, we matched 10 controls to each case based on hospital admission, calendar time (within 6 wk), cohort entrance (within 6 wk) and age (within 5 yr). We used conditional logistic regression to assess the rate ratio (RR) for acute kidney injury with current, recent and past use of fluoroquinolones, adjusted by potential confounding variables. We repeated this analysis with amoxicillin and azithromycin as controls. We used a case-time-control design for our secondary analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 1292 cases and 12 651 matched controls. Current fluoroquinolone use had a 2.18-fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-2.73) higher adjusted RR of acute kidney injury compared with no use. There was no association between acute kidney injury and recent (adjusted RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.66-1.16) or past (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.66-1.12) use. The absolute increase in acute kidney injury was 6.5 events per 10 000 person-years. We observed 1 additional case per 1529 patients given fluoroquinolones or per 3287 prescriptions dispensed. The dual use of fluoroquinolones and renin-angiotensin-system blockers had an RR of 4.46 (95% CI 2.84-6.99) for acute kidney injury. Our case-time-control analysis confirmed an increased risk of acute kidney injury with fluoroquinolone use (RR 2.16, 95% CI 1.52-3.18). The use of amoxicillin or azithromycin was not associated with acute kidney injury.

INTERPRETATION

We found a small, but significant, increased risk of acute kidney injury among men with the use of oral fluoroquinolones, as well as a significant interaction between the concomitant use of fluoroquinolones and renin-angiotensin-system blockers.

Amoxicillin renal toxicity: how often does it occur?

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence of renal symptoms associated with amoxicillin, a retrospective review of exposures to amoxicillin in children younger than 6 years as reported to the National Poison Data System was done.

METHODS

All ingestions of amoxicillin without coingestants in humans younger than 6 years reported to the National Poison Data System from 2004 through 2008 were analyzed. Data included age, sex, management site, outcome, symptoms, amount ingested, certainty of amount, chronicity, weight, and therapy. The study was approved by the institutional review board. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the data.

RESULTS

A total of 14,717 cases were identified. Related renal symptoms occurred in 5 patients (0.03%). In 1687 patients (9.6%), the total amount (in milligrams) was documented, and the median amount ingested was 1000 mg. In patients with a known amount (in milligrams) along with the child's weight (n = 1356), the median amount was 82.6 mg/kg. In this group, 213 ingested greater than 250 mg/kg (range, 251.4-1531.1 mg/kg; median, 366.5 mg/kg). Treatment sites for this group included the following: treated in the home, 129 (60.6%); treated and released from an health care facility, 63 (29.6%); treated while admitted, 2 (0.9%); refused a referral, 7 (3.3%); lost to follow-up, 9 (4.2%); and managed at other sites, 3 (1.4%). Within this group, 94 patients (44.1%) were followed up to a definitive outcome: 77 (81.9%) had no effect, 15 (16.0%) had minor symptoms, and 2 (2.1%) had moderate symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

Although renal toxicity may occur with amoxicillin ingestions, it is rare and does not seem to be dose related.

Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole induced hyperkalaemia in elderly patients receiving spironolactone: nested case-control study

OBJECTIVES

To characterise the risk of admission to hospital for hyperkalaemia in elderly patients treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in combination with spironolactone.

DESIGN

Population based nested case-control study.

SETTING

Ontario, Canada, from 1 April 1992 to 1 March 2010.

PARTICIPANTS

Cases were residents of Ontario aged 66 years or above receiving chronic treatment with spironolactone and admitted to hospital with hyperkalaemia within 14 days of receiving a prescription for either trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, amoxicillin, norfloxacin, or nitrofurantoin. Up to four controls for each case were identified from the same cohort, matched on age, sex, and presence or absence of chronic kidney disease and diabetes, and required to have received one of the study antibiotics within 14 days before the case's index date.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Odds ratio for association between admission to hospital with hyperkalaemia and receipt of a study antibiotic in the preceding 14 days, adjusted for conditions and drugs that may influence risk of hyperkalaemia.

RESULTS

During the 18 year study period, 6903 admissions for hyperkalaemia were identified, 306 of which occurred within 14 days of antibiotic use. Of these, 248 (81%) cases were matched to 783 controls. 10.8% (17,859/165,754) of spironolactone users received at least one prescription for trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Compared with amoxicillin, prescription of trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was associated with a marked increase in the risk of admission to hospital for hyperkalaemia (adjusted odds ratio 12.4, 95% confidence interval 7.1 to 21.6). The population attributable fraction was 59.7%, suggesting that approximately 60% of all cases of hyperkalaemia in older patients taking spironolactone and treated with an antibiotic for a urinary tract infection could be avoided if trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was not prescribed. Treatment with nitrofurantoin was also associated with an increase in the risk of hyperkalaemia (adjusted odds ratio 2.4, 1.3 to 4.6), but no such risk was found with norfloxacin (adjusted odds ratio 1.6, 0.8 to 3.4)

CONCLUSIONS

Among older patients receiving spironolactone, treatment with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was associated with a major increase in the risk of admission to hospital for hyperkalaemia. This drug combination should be avoided when possible.

Penicillin G-induced hemorrhagic cystitis with hydronephrosis

Irritable urological symptoms with gross hematuria and bilateral lumbar pain developed when the patient received penicillin G for endocarditis. These symptoms were followed by renal insufficiency. A contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a thickened bladder wall, bilateral hydroureter and hydronephrosis, suggesting hemorrhagic cystitis complicated with urinary tract obstruction. Urine culture was negative. After discontinuation of penicillin G, all symptoms subsided and renal function recovered; hence, penicillin G seems to have been associated with hemorrhagic cystitis and acute kidney injury. Positive findings in the drug lymphocyte stimulation test (DLST) for penicillin G were consistent with this diagnosis.

In utero and in vitro exposure to beta-lactams impair kidney development in the rat

beta-Lactam antibiotics are widely used because of their lack of toxicity in humans. However, during pregnancy, exposure of the fetus is likely to occur because beta-lactam antibiotics cross the placenta. The potential adverse effects of two penicillins (ampicillin, amoxicillin) and of one cephalosporin (ceftriaxone) were examined in rat kidney development. Two experimental approaches were used: metanephros organ cultures to analyze the direct effect of the drug and maternal treatment to assess the consequences of in utero exposure. For in vitro experiments, metanephroi were removed from 14-d-old fetuses and grown with or without the antibiotic at a concentration ranging from 10 to 1000 microg/ml for 6 d. For in vivo experiments, pregnant rats were treated with penicillin at 100 mg/kg per d for 5 d, a period overlapping early renal organogenesis. Both penicillins alter renal development in vitro in a dose-dependent manner, from a dose of 10 microg/ml for ampicillin and 100 microg/ml for amoxicillin. In young animals exposed to penicillins in utero, a mild oligonephronia was present and cystic tubule dilation was observed in newborn and in young animals as well. Ceftriaxone weakly impairs in vitro nephrogenesis except at the dose of 1000 microg/ml that blocks kidney development completely. No effect on nephron ontogeny was observed following in utero exposure, but an interstitial inflammation was present in the medulla of 2-wk-old rats. In conclusion, these data show that beta-lactams, at therapeutic doses, are harmful to fetal rat kidneys.

Drug-induced nephrotoxicity

Drug-induced renal dysfunction is not an uncommon event, which can cause significant morbidity and can be easily overlooked. Many medications can lead to renal dysfunction through various mechanisms. The most common medications or classes of medications along with their clinical presentations are discussed in this article. As can be noted, many drugs can cause nephropathy in more than one way. Because it is difficult to discuss nephrotoxicities of every reported medication, Tables 1, 2, and 3 are provided; although these tables are by no means comprehensive, they may serve as further reference. This article is intended to provide a broad overview of the spectrum of presentation associated with drug-induced nephrotoxicity to guide the clinician to familiarity with this entity.

Liver injury related to amoxycillin-clavulanic acid: interlobular bile-duct lesions and extrahepatic manifestations

We report eight cases of liver injury related to amoxycillin-clavulanate. Liver biopsy performed in seven patients revealed varying degrees of injury to interlobular bile ducts in all cases. Lesions included irregularity of the nuclei, vacuolization of the cytoplasm, lymphocytic infiltration, destruction and endothelialization of the bile duct epithelium. Ductopenia was not observed. In two patients liver injury was accompanied by prominent extrahepatic manifestations (acute interstitial nephritis in one and acute lacrimal gland inflammation and sialadenitis with prolonged xerostomia in the other). We conclude that interlobular bile-duct lesions of varying severity are a common feature in liver injury related to amoxycillin-clavulanate. Side effects of the drug include acute interstitial nephritis and sialadenitis.

Acute interstitial nephritis with glomerulopathy due to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents: a review of its clinical spectrum and effects of steroid therapy

We reviewed case reports of patients who developed acute renal failure and/or nephrotic range proteinuria in the course of receiving treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIA). Those cases that contained information sufficient to confirm the diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis with glomerulopathy (AING), including a suggestive clinical syndrome with appropriate renal biopsy findings, were further analyzed to achieve a more complete description of this clinical entity and its responsiveness to steroid treatment. Analysis of the cases that fulfilled the inclusion criteria confirmed that the disorder is twice as common in women and occurs mainly in elderly people, usually after long-term use of NSAIAs for musculoskeletal problems. Fenoprofen was implicated in 47% of the cases. Evidence of systemic hypersensitivity was uncommon. Two thirds of the cases displayed clinical and/or histological evidence of both acute interstitial nephritis and increased glomerular permeability. These findings strongly suggest that this condition is distinct from other drug-induced "allergic" acute interstitial nephritides. In the absence of complicating factors, all patients improved following discontinuation of the offending agents. No evidence was found to suggest that steroid therapy altered the clinical course of this process.

[Acute interstitial nephritis following piperacillin]

A 75-year-old woman developed fever, exanthema and nonoliguric renal failure 16 days after the beginning of Piperacillin treatment. Renal biopsy revealed lympho-plasma-cellular acute interstitial nephritis (AIN). A lymphocyte-transformation-test showed significant stimulation of patient's lymphocytes by Piperacillin. Corticosteroid-therapy correlated to clinical and renal improvement. Nevertheless the patient died of foudroyant septicemia caused by E. coli. Our report describes the first immunologically documented case of AIN following Piperacillin treatment.

Drug hypersensitivity causing granulomatous interstitial nephritis

In association with treatment for pharyngitis, a 47-year-old white man developed a systemic illness with fever, myalgia, episcleritis, hemoptysis, pleurisy, eosinophilia, and renal impairment. Renal biopsy revealed granulomatous interstitial nephritis, which resolved due to no specific treatment other than withdrawing all medication. Both the severe systemic manifestations and spontaneous recovery are unusual in association with drug-induced granulomatous nephritis. The drugs that may have caused the reaction included dihydrocodeine, phenylpropanolamine, erythromycin, and amoxycillin. Although the latter three drugs have been previously implicated in the development of interstitial nephritis, there have been no previous reports of granulomatous interstitial nephritis with any of these drugs.

Ultrastructure of the kidney in acute interstitial nephritis

Fifteen percutaneous renal biopsies from patients with acute renal failure due to acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), in almost all cases due to drugs, were studied by electron microscopy. Differential counting of interstitial cells showed an average of 69% lymphocytes (small and large) and 11% macrophages. Plasma cells and eosinophils were comparatively rare. The infiltrate resembled that of acute rejection, suggesting a cellular hypersensitivity reaction. Proximal and distal tubules were severely affected focally. Migration of lymphocytes through the tubular basement membrane of otherwise well-preserved tubules was considered to be the first phase. Other tubules showed extreme thinning of the tubular basement membrane, with still intact cellular walls. Rupture of the tubular basement membrane and necrotic disintegration of tubular epithelial cells are probably late phenomena. The non-necrotic tubules displayed severe reduction of proximal brush border and proximal as well as distal tubular basolateral infoldings. Focal tubular disintegration leading to tubular block and/or backleak as well as decrease of proximal tubular sodium resorption leading to a decreased glomerular filtration (a mechanism probably also acting in ischemic acute renal failure) may all be factors responsible for the acute renal failure in AIN.

Acute amoxicillin nephrotoxicity following an overdose

A 3 year old boy developed acute renal failure following an ingestion of 574 mg/kg of amoxicillin. Accidental ingestions of oral penicillins occur commonly, and are usually considered completely nontoxic. Based on this case, however, the possibility of adverse effects following large oral doses of penicillin-type antibiotics, mediated by allergic hypersensitivity or direct toxicity, should be considered.

Glomerulonephritis in bacterial endocarditis

The introduction of antibiotic therapy and changing epidemiologic patterns have altered the nature of glomerulonephritis as it occurs during the course of bacterial endocarditis. Observations made predominantly in the pre-antibiotic era suggested that infections with less virulent organisms, by virtue of their indolent subacute course, favored an antibody response predisposing to immune complex glomerulonephritis. Although antibiotic prophylaxis and therapy have reduced the incidence of both Streptococcus viridans bacterial endocarditis and concomitant glomerulonephritis, Staphylococcus aureus has become a major cause of acute bacterial endocarditis with a high incidence of glomerulonephritis. Parenteral drug abuse itself, which has emerged as a major factor predisposing to endocarditis, may also favor the development of glomerulonephritis. The course of glomerulonephritis has been altered in association with these changes in etiology and epidemiology. This review summarizes the clinical and morphologic features of glomerulonephritis as it currently occurs during the course of bacterial endocarditis.

Experimental ampicillin glomerulonephropathy

Eighteen dogs were given repeated doses (between 4 and 19) of ampicillin (7 mg per kg intramuscularly on 3 days a week). Fifteen of the dogs developed a subclinical glomerulonephropathy characterized by mesangial hypercellularity. While only 9 of the 18 dogs showed electron-dense deposits in the mesangium, 14 dogs had glomerular deposits of IgG and 11 of these had C3 deposits also.

Acute interstitial nephritis in childhood

Three children aged 11 to 14 years with acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) are presented. In one patient AIN developed following antibiotic treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX). In two patients no infection, drug, or toxin could be implicated. Severe polyuric renal failure without elevation of blood pressure was the predominant clinical feature. Uveitis occurred either simultaneously with the nephritic symptoms or several weeks after complete recovery of renal function. Renal functions were characteristically altered and led to suspicion of AIN even prior to renal biopsy. Renal plasma flow was relatively more reduced than glomerular filtration rate (GFR) with an accordingly increased filtration fraction. Quantitative evaluation of selective tubular functions revealed significant transport deficiencies for glucose, amino acids, inorganic phosphate and low molecular weight proteins. In two patients GFR increased rapidly following initiation of steroid treatment and tubular symptoms simultaneously disappeared. In one patient spontaneous remission occurred. We conclude that--in contrast to adults--the prognosis of AIN in childhood is favorable. Although general clinical features are rather nonspecific, symptoms of decreased tubular reabsorption ability provide a good indication of the diagnosis and may contribute to enhanced recognition of this disease.