Renal Tubular Necrosis due to Nephrotoxicity of Organic Mercurial Diuretics

doi:10.1059/0003-4819-57-1-34

Renal Tubular Necrosis due to Nephrotoxicity of Organic Mercurial Diuretics

RICHARD B. FREEMAN, M.D.;
JOHN F. MAHER, M.D.;
GEORGE E. SCHREINER, M.D., F.A.C.P.; and
F. K. MOSTOFI, M.D.

Requests for reprints should be addressed to George E. Schreiner, M.D., Renal and Electrolyte Division, Georgetown University Hospital,
3800 Reservoir Road, N. W., Washington 7, D. C.

Excerpt

The mercurial diuretics have been well established as therapeutic agents. Toxic reactions are rare when viewed against the frequency of diuretic therapy. Nephrotoxicity, one of the more serious complications of mercurial diuretics, has been both denied and documented (1).

The present study adds 5 cases of renal tubular necrosis due to mercurial diuretics. Histologic material was drawn from the Georgetown University Hospital and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. Criteria for inclusion were:

1. Acute onset of oliguria, and renal failure following the administration of mercurial diuretic;

2. No other ready explanation for the oliguria;

3. A clinical course consistent with

Summario in Interlingua

Es reportate sex casos de acute disfallimento renal causate per diureticos mercurial organic. In cinque del casos le diagnose esseva confirmate al necropsia. Es presentate illustrative specimens histopathologic. Un breve revista del litteratura concernite con le nephro toxici ta te de mercuriales organic revela le infrequentia de iste complication. Tamen, le reportate casos e nostre proprie materiales indica que le presentia de pre-existente disfallimento renal predispone le patiente a disveloppar iste complication. Es discutite brevemente le fato de injicite diureticos mercurial in le presentia de disfallimento renal.

Article and Author Information

From the Department of Medicine, Georgetown University School of Medicine, the Renal and Electrolyte Division, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D. C., and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D. C.
Supported in part by the John Hartford Foundation and the Veterans Administration Central Laboratory for Anatomical Pathology and Research, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, D. C.
- Received September 7, 1961.
- Accepted April 16, 1962.