title: [Toxicity of an organic Germanium compound: deleterious consequences of a "natural remedy"].
abstract: Reports mainly from Japan, recommend germanium (Ge)-containing compounds as "anti-cancer" and "immunostimulatory" remedies. We report on a 25-tear-old woman with stage II HIV disease who consumed a total of 47 g Ge as Ge-lactate-citrate 18%. She developed severe renal insufficiency (creatinine clearance 7 ml/min/1.73 m2, proteinuria 0.28 g/d) and hepatomegaly. Biopsies revealed tubulointerstitial nephropathy with vacuolar degeneration, mainly of distal tubular epithelia, and severe liver steatosis. Tissue Ge content in kidney and liver biopsy specimens was increased 68-and 140 fold respectively. In agreement with previous reports, renal dysfunction persisted 9 months later (creatinine clearance 11 ml/min/1.73 m2).
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Universitätspoliklinik, Inselspital, Bern.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raisin
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blatter
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Descoeudres
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Horber
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jaeger
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000328:Adult; D002951:Citrates; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005857:Germanium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002951:Citrates; D007773:Lactates; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D005857:Germanium; C050437:sanumgerman
vernacular_title: Toxizität einer organischen Germanium-Verbindung: Deletäre Folgen eines "Naturheilmittels"