ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of acute renal failure (ARF) caused by oral acyclovir. METHODS: A 45-year-old Chinese male patient with acyclovir-induced ARF suffered from abdominal pain for one day. The pain was extended to the epigastric area from the right lower quadrant. Transient oliguria was seen in addition to microscopic hematuria and proteinuria. The serum creatinine concentration was 304 μmol/L. Eight days before the occurrence of ARF, the patient took oral acyclovir for facial neuritis. RESULTS: His renal function was restored completely following the discontinuation of acyclovir, with continuous renal replacement therapy for 54 hours and some symptomatic treatment. CONCLUSION: The presentation of acute renal failure caused by acyclovir can be diverse, but the prognosis is good after active treatment.