title: Retrospective review of vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity in patients with leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The occurrence of nephrotoxicity with vancomycin is approximately 17%, but can increase to 35% when combined with other nephrotoxic agents. Patients with hematologic malignancies may be at greater risk for vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity due to nephrotoxic chemotherapy and tumor lysis syndrome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of nephrotoxicity in adult patients with leukemia receiving vancomycin.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review approved by the Institutional Review Board was conducted on adult patients with leukemia who received at least one dose of vancomycin during hospital admission between 1 January 2009 and 30 April 2009.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty patients had an occurrence of nephrotoxicity (16%) while 210 patients did not have an occurrence of nephrotoxicity. In multivariate analysis, variables significantly associated with development of nephrotoxicity included active disease status (odds ratio, 4.38 [95% CI 1.1-29.4], p = 0.0291), concomitant intravenous acyclovir administration (odds ratio, 3.83 [95% CI, 1.6-8.9]; p = 0.0022), and concomitant amphotericin administration (odds ratio, 4.26 [95% CI, 1.9-9.4]; p = 0.0004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The occurrence of nephrotoxicity in patients with leukemia treated with vancomycin was 16% in our study, similar to previously published reports. Active disease status and concomitant use of intravenous acyclovir and amphotericin were identified as significant risk factors for development of nephrotoxicity. The presence of risk factors for vancomycin nephrotoxicity should be evaluated prior to initiation of therapy to determine appropriateness of use.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA acfullmer@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Amber
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fullmer
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McCue
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacy, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D061605:Administration, Intravenous; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007938:Leukemia / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin; D000666:Amphotericin B; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Vancomycin; leukemia; nephrotoxicity