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Case Reports
. 2016 Nov-Dec;26(6):446-448.
doi: 10.4103/0971-4065.175978.

Acute kidney injury associated with ingestion of star fruit: Acute oxalate nephropathy

A K Barman  1 , R Goel  1 , M Sharma  1 , P J Mahanta  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Acute kidney injury associated with ingestion of star fruit: Acute oxalate nephropathy

A K Barman et al. Indian J Nephrol. 2016 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Starfruit (Averrhoa carambola) and its juice are popular in the Indian subcontinent as an indigenous medicine. Oxalate concentration in this fruit and it's freshly prepared juice is very high. We present a report of patients presenting with acute kidney injury due to oxalate nephropathy admitted in a single center. All patients had history of ingesting star fruit. Patients became symptomatic after 10-12 h of eating and main symptoms were pain abdomen and decrease in urine output. Three patients needed hemodialysis. All improved with complete renal recovery. Taking star fruit in large amount on an empty stomach and in a dehydrated state is a risk factor for nephrotoxicity.

Keywords: Acute kidney injury; oxalate nephropathy; star fruit.

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Conflict of interest statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Star fruit or Averrhoa carambola (a and b). Microscopic views of biopsy specimens (c: Frozen section, ×40). Dilation of renal tubules, interstitial edema, and an interstitial deposition of oxalate crystals (d: H and E, ×40)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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