Renal function after short-term ibuprofen use in infants and children.
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that short-term use of ibuprofen increases the risk of impaired renal function in children.


METHODS
Randomized, double-blind acetaminophen-controlled clinical trial. Children with a febrile illness were enrolled from outpatient pediatric and family medicine practices and randomly assigned to receive either acetaminophen suspension or one of two dosages of ibuprofen suspension (5 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg) for fever control.


RESULTS
Mean blood urea nitrogen levels on admission among children admitted to hospital and assigned ibuprofen 5 mg/kg (n = 96), ibuprofen 10 mg/kg (n = 102), and acetaminophen 12 mg/kg (n = 87) were 4.1, 3.8, and 3.9 mmol/L, respectively. The corresponding creatinine levels were 43, 41, and 43 micromol/L, respectively. The prevalence of a creatinine level >62 micromol/L was 9.5% overall and did not vary by antipyretic assignment. Among 83 children hospitalized with dehydration, the mean creatinine level was 44 micromol/L, and the prevalence of an elevated creatinine was 14%; neither measure varied by antipyretic assignment.


CONCLUSIONS
Although renal failure in children has been reported after ibuprofen use, these data suggest that for short-term use the risk of less severe renal impairment, as reflected by blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels, is small and not significantly greater than that after acetaminophen use.
Lesko
S M
SM
Slone Epidemiology Unit, School of Public Health, Boston University School of Medicine, Brookline, Massachusetts 02146, USA.
Mitchell
A A
AA
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001806:Blood Urea Nitrogen; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000082:Acetaminophen; D003404:Creatinine; D007052:Ibuprofen