title: Acute Kidney Injury Associated With Vancomycin When Laxity Leads to Injury and Findings on Kidney Biopsy.
abstract: The issue of vancomycin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) has resurged with the use of intravenous vancomycin as a first-line antibiotic, often for prolonged periods of time for the management of serious methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections, and with a higher recommended trough level (15-20 μg/mL). We have observed 3 patients on intravenous vancomycin who developed very high trough levels (>40 μg/mL) and severe (stage 3) AKI. Those 3 patients underwent kidney biopsy for unresolving AKI, which revealed findings compatible with acute tubular necrosis. The first patient initially developed asymptomatic acute interstitial nephritis because of a concomitant antibiotic that caused worsening of kidney function, and the dose of vancomycin was not properly adjusted while staying at the nursing home. The second was an emaciated patient (BMI, 14) whose serum creatinine level was a deceptive marker of kidney function for the proper dosing of vancomycin, resulting in a toxic level. The third patient developed vancomycin-related AKI on an initially high therapeutic level, which then contributed to further rising in vancomycin level and subsequently causing severe AKI. One patient required hemodialysis, but all 3 patients ultimately recovered their kidney function significantly. A regular monitoring (preferably twice weekly) of serum creatinine and vancomycin trough level is advisable to minimize vancomycin-associated AKI, primarily acute tubular necrosis, for patients requiring prolonged administration of vancomycin (>2 weeks) on the currently recommended higher therapeutic trough levels (>15 μg/mL).
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Division, Montefiore Medical Center-Wakefield Campus, New York, NY.
authors.forename: Madhavi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katikaneni
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lwin
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Jinil
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000139:chemically induced*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007683:Kidney Tubular Necrosis, Acute / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; D008875:Middle Aged; D009395:Nephritis, Interstitial / Q000139:chemically induced; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin; D003404:Creatinine