[The effect of various factors on the progression of kidney insufficiency cause by analgesic nephropathy]

Abstract

In a retrospective study of 33 patients the influence of different anamnestic, clinical and laboratory parameters on the progression of renal failure was investigated. The analysis of progression of renal failure was evaluated in terms of a reasonable criterium intuitively suggesting itself which is based on a non-linear fitting of the serum creatinine profile. Follow-up serum creatinine levels showed that renal function became worse in 28 cases, with terminal renal failure developing in 6 cases. In 5 patients significant improvement in kidney function was observed. The variables systolic and diastolic blood pressure, total amount of ingested analgesics, continued abuse and cessation of analgesics, frequency of urinary tract infections and amount of proteinuria had no significant influence on progression of renal failure. However, a strong relationship between the initial serum creatinine level and the progression of renal failure could be established. In conclusion our results indicate that long-term prognosis of analgesic nephropathy mainly depends on early diagnosis.