title: Acute renal failure: is nitric oxide the bad guy?
abstract: Nephrotoxicity is a major side effect in clinical practice, frequently leading to acute renal failure (ARF). Many physiological mechanisms have been implicated in drug-induced renal injury. Currently, nitric oxide (NO) is considered to be an important regulator of renal vascular tone and a modulator of glomerular function under both basal and physiopathological conditions. Historically, NO has been implicated in ARF and, after its discovery, several publications have suggested that changes in NO production could play an important role in the hemodynamic alterations observed in ARF. In this review, we evaluate the participation of NO in ARF and summarize many of the findings in this research area in an attempt to elucidate the role of NO in ARF.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology-Hypertension, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego and Veteran Affairs Medical Center, 92161 San Diego, CA, USA. jvaldivielso@vapop.ucsd.edu
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Valdivielso
authors.forename: Roland C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Blantz
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology* / Q000633:toxicity; D018805:Sepsis
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide