title: Drug-induced acute tubulointerstitial nephritis: a case with elevated urinary cadmium.
abstract: Acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN) has many different causes, but is most frequently caused by drugs. We report a 13-year-old vegetarian girl with drug-induced ATIN, confirmed by renal biopsy, and simultaneous occurrence of elevated urinary cadmium. Four weeks prior to admission she had been treated with antibiotics and acetaminophen for respiratory infection, and remaining febrile, was treated with different "home-made" herbal mixtures. She presented with acute non-oliguric renal failure, tubular dysfunction, and sterile pyuria, but without skin rash or edema. Laboratory data showed a raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, normal white blood count with eosinophilia, and a serum creatinine of 245 micromol/l. Urinalysis was remarkable for glycosuria, tubular proteinuria, and elevated beta(2)-microglobulin and N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase excretion. Immunoserological tests characteristic of acute glomerulonephritis and systemic diseases were negative. She was treated with steroids and her renal function improved. Follow-up analyses disclosed normal urinary cadmium and enzyme excretion within 6 months. Heavy metal analysis of herbal preparations that she had taken confirmed the presence of cadmium, but within approved concentrations. In conclusion, elevated urinary cadmium in the case of drug-induced ATIN may be assumed to be an accidental finding. However, consumption of different herbs containing cadmium and cadmium-induced nephro-toxicity could be the reason for such serious renal damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Clinic, Kantrida Children's Hospital, Istarska 43, HR-51000 Rijeka, Croatia. mirna_subat@dr.com
authors.forename: Mirna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subat-Dezulović
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Slavić
authors.forename: Vojko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rozmanić
authors.forename: Mladen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Persić
authors.forename: Branka
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Medjimurec
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sćukanec-Spoljar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002104:Cadmium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D002104:Cadmium