cefuroxime-axetil and Kidney-Failure--Chronic

Cefuroxime axetil has been associated with few reported adverse effects. We report a case of bilateral renal cortical necrosis in a female after receiving 7 doses over 4 treatment days. The patient presented with worsening symptoms consisting of arthralgias, pruritus, and abdominal pain. Laboratory data obtained was indicative of worsening renal failure and thrombocytopenia. The patient required hemodialysis by the third day. Kidney biopsy revealed cortical necrosis. The possible pathogenesis of cefuroxime axetil causing cortical necrosis in this case and a review of other reported cases of chemical induced renal cortical necrosis is discussed.

Topics: Bronchiolitis; Cefuroxime; Cephalosporins; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Female; Humans; Kidney; Kidney Cortex Necrosis; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Middle Aged; Renal Dialysis

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) is one of the most threatening adverse reactions to various drugs. No case of concomitant occurrence TEN and severe granulocytopenia following the treatment with cefuroxime has been reported to date. Herein we present a case of TEN that developed eighteen days of the initiation of cefuroxime axetil therapy for urinary tract infection in a 73-year-old woman with chronic renal failure and no previous history of allergic diathesis. The condition was associated with severe granulocytopenia and followed by gastrointestinal hemorrhage, severe sepsis and multiple organ failure syndrome development. Despite intensive medical treatment the patient died. The present report underlines the potential of cefuroxime to simultaneously induce life threatening adverse effects such as TEN and severe granulocytopenia. Further on, because the patient was also taking furosemide for chronic renal failure, the possible unfavorable interactions between the two drugs could be hypothesized. Therefore, awareness of the possible drug interaction is necessary, especially when given in conditions of their altered pharmacokinetics as in case of chronic renal failure.

Topics: Aged; Agranulocytosis; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Cefuroxime; Fatal Outcome; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome; Urinary Tract Infections

Cefuroxime is a second-generation cephalosporin that can be used for the treatment of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis. Cefuroxime-axetil is an orally available pro-drug of cefuroxime. The effect of concomitant use of a phosphate binder on the bioavailability of cefuroxime-axetil was studied in 7 continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients who had not recently suffered from peritonitis. On two occasions, we measured cefuroxime levels in plasma, peritoneal effluent, and urine for 24 h after the ingestion of 1 g of cefuroxime-axetil: once together with a phosphate binder (+PB) and once without (-PB). Peak plasma concentrations (Cmax) were +PB: 22.7 mg/L (15.3-32.6) (median and range) and -PB: 23.2 mg/L (18.9-27.4). The area under the curve (AUC) of the plasma levels was +PB: 364 mg h/L (247-530) and -PB: 368 mg h/L (296-438). The plasma elimination half-life (t1/2) was +PB: 13.9 h (11.5-14.6) and -PB: 13.8 h (12.2-15.4). Cefuroxime concentrations in the peritoneal effluent from the first exchange were 1.9 mg/L (0.5-6.2) (+PB) and 3.4 mg/L (2.1-4.7) (-PB). In the peritoneal effluent from the second up to the last exchange, the cefuroxime levels were stable at +PB: 5.0 mg/L (2.0-8.8) and -PB: 5.3 mg/L (1.8-7.5). The total amount of cefuroxime excreted into peritoneal effluent and urine was +PB: 82 mg (30-124), -PB: 100 mg (36-129). So Cmax, AUC, t1/2 and the total amount of excreted cefuroxime were not different. Therefore, the bioavailability of cefuroxime-axetil is not reduced by the use of a phosphate binder.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Aluminum Hydroxide; Biological Availability; Cefuroxime; Female; Humans; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Male; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; Phosphates; Prodrugs