Aminoglycoside antibiotics and renal function: changes in urinary gamma-glutamyltransferase excretion.
The urinary excretion of the renal proximal tubular enzyme, gamma-glutamyltransferase (gamma-GT), has been studied in 41 patients receiving tobramycin, gentamicin or streptomycin for a variety of infections. All patients receiving tobramycin or gentamicin have shown increased excretion of gamma-GT in the urine. Only 46% of those receiving streptomycin have shown an increase in gamma-GT excretion and this is of a lesser degree. A change in creatinine clearance which could only be explained by antibiotic administration was detected in three patients (2 on gentamicin, 1 on streptomycin). The degree of elevation of urinary gamma-GT activity was greater when the initial creatinine clearance was lower, and it is therefore suggested that those patients with pre-existing renal dysfunction should be monitored particularly carefully for signs of nephrotoxicity from these antibiotics. Urinary gamma-GT is a useful enzyme in the investigation of renal drug effects.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D008875:Middle Aged; D013307:Streptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014031:Tobramycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000652:urine*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins; D003404:Creatinine; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D014031:Tobramycin; D013307:Streptomycin