Methylprednisolone reduces the nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin

Abstract

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given either 6.5 or 8.5 mg/kg of iv cisplatin combined with three injections of sc methylprednisolone in doses of either 50, 100 or 250 mg/kg at -4, 0 and 4 h after the cisplatin injection. Blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels were determined on day 5 following the cisplatin injection. The protective effects of methylprednisolone on cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity were clearly demonstrated. Our preliminary results suggest that a much higher dose of cisplatin could be injected in cancer chemotherapy, if it was combined with methylprednisolone.