Crystal-induced Acute Renal Failure due to Acyclovir in a Renal Transplant Patient / 대한이식학회지

ABSTRACT

Several medications are associated with the production of crystals that are insoluble in human urine. Intratubular precipitations of these crystals can lead to acute renal insufficiency. Many patients who require treatment with these medications have additional risk factors, such as volume depletion, underlying renal insufficiency and immunocompromised state that increase the risk of drug induced intrarenal crystal deposition. We experienced a case of crystal-induced acute renal failure due to acyclovir in a 44 year-old male renal allograft recipient. He was diagnosed as Varicella Zoster at 12 days after transplantation, and treated with intravenous (IV) acyclovir (IV infusion of acyclovir 250 mg mixed with normal saline 100 mL within several minutes three times a day, total seven times). Two days after initiation of IV acyclovir, serum BUN was increased up to 160 mg/dL, serum creatinine was increased up to 9.9 mg/dL and urine output was decreased to anuria. With discontinuation of acyclovir, hemodialysis was started as treatment of renal insufficiency. Renal function was restored after discontinuation of acyclovir.