Mahboob Khan
1, Luis M Ortega
1*, Nasreen Bagwan
2, Ali Nayer
31 Division of nephrology and Hypertension, Allegheny General Hospital, Temple University School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
2 Department of Medicine, Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
3 Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
*Corresponding Author: Corresponding author: Luis M Ortega; Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Allegheny General Hospital, Temple University School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA., Email:
lortega@wpahs.org
Abstract
Background: Fluoroquinolones are known to cause acute renal failure due to interstitial nephritis.
Case Presentation: Here we present an elderly woman who developed oliguric acute kidney injury (AKI) after receiving oral and intravenous ciprofloxacin in a 48-hour period. Recently, several case reports have been published in the literature regarding the presence of crystals in the urine sediment of patients treated with ciprofloxacin for different types of systemic infections. Ciprofloxacin crystals precipitate in alkaline urine and provoke renal failure through intra-tubular precipitation.
Conclusions: Conservative measures including intravenous hydration and avoidance of alkalinization of the urine can reverse this condition if applied in time.
Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Fluoroquinolones are known to cause acute renal failure due to interstitial nephritis. The crystals of this agent, precipitate under alkaline urine and provoke renal failure through intra-tubular precipitation. Conservative measures, that include hydration with standard intravenous fluid formulations and avoidance of alkalinization of the urine, can reverse this condition if applied on time.
Please cite this paper as: Khan M, Ortega LM, Bagwan N, Nayer A. Crystal-induced acute kidney injury due to ciprofloxacin. J Nephropathol. 2015; 4(1):29-31. DOI: 10.12860/jnp.2015.06