Nephrotoxicity in combined cephalothin and gentamicin therapy.
Thirty-two series of treatment with cephalothin and gentamicin for 5-10 days have been administered to 26 patients. An increase in serum creatinine occurred in 6 series. Important factors for the renal damage were elevated pretreatment serum creatinine, elevated serum gentamicin and probably a high serum cephalothin. In 2 patients the nephrotoxicity was fully reversible; the others died before a dicisive improvement in renal function could be expected. In 11 out of 28 treatment series there was a transient drop in serum potassium. Since the combination of cephalothin and gentamicin as the primary treatment of life-threatening infection has often proved effective, and since short-lasting treatment seems to entail only a minute risk of nephrotoxicity in patients with normal pretreatment serum creatinine, we still prefer this treatment in such cases.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002512:Cephalothin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects*; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
D005839:Gentamicins; D003404:Creatinine; D002512:Cephalothin; D011188:Potassium