Nephrotic Syndrome, Antibiotics, Ibuprofen

A:

Kidney is an important urinary detoxification organ. Though it has the functions of discharging metabolic wastes and toxins, improper intake of some western and Chinese medicines can poison the kidneys and cause severe kidney damages. Many antibiotics such as ibuprofen, indomethacins have potential renal toxicity and the severity of renal damages is up to the dosage and course of the medicines. However timely stopping medication can help relieve renal damage and recover renal functions though in some cases severe consequences will be induced.

These medicines can cause decrease of glomerular filtration rate, ischemia, hyperkalemia and retention of water and salt. They can also induce nephrotic syndrome and acute interstitial nephritis.

Therefore it is very necessary to have regular routine urine test and renal function test to have close monitoring of potential renal damages.

However in some cases, the renal damages are caused by allergy to the medicines instead of the medicines having renal toxicity, therefore allergy tests should be done before taking antibiotics.