fumaric-acid and Acute-Kidney-Injury

Fumaric acid esters are considered efficacious and safe drugs for the treatment of psoriasis. Renal damage, caused either by acute renal injury or Fanconi syndrome, is a recognized side-effect of this therapy.. To investigate whether the measurement of urinary excretion of β2-microglobulin, a marker of renal proximal tubular dysfunction, allows early detection of kidney damage before an increase in serum creatinine or significant proteinuria occurs.. Urinary β2-microglobulin excretion was measured regularly in 23 patients undergoing fumaric acid ester therapy.. Urinary β2-microglobulin remained normal in all 10 male patients. Three (23%) out of 13 female patients experienced an increase in urinary β2-microglobulin excretion. In two of these patients a sharp increase was observed in association with high doses. One further patient had moderately elevated levels on rather low doses of fumaric acid esters. After discontinuing treatment, urinary β2-microglobulin levels returned to normal within a few weeks.. Determination of urinary β2-microglobulin possibly allows early detection of renal damage by fumaric acid esters. Female patients seem to be prone to this side-effect, especially when taking high doses.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; beta 2-Microglobulin; Biomarkers; Early Diagnosis; Female; Fumarates; Humans; Kidney Function Tests; Male; Middle Aged; Psoriasis

24 days after starting treatment of psoriasis with fumaric acid derivatives (0.8-1.0 g orally, plus unknown quantities locally) a 21-year-old woman developed acute oliguric renal failure with a rise of serum creatinine levels to 1094 mumol/l (12.4 mg/dl). Deterioration of renal function had been preceded by severe abdominal symptoms with nausea, vomiting and colicky pain. On admission to hospital she was dehydrated with hyponatraemia and hypokalaemia. There was glomerular microhaematuria, increased excretion of renal epithelia, and tubular proteinuria. Renal biopsy demonstrated acute tubular damage with vacuolization of proximal epithelia, dilated tubules and scattered necroses. After intermittent haemodialysis (13 courses over two weeks) renal function gradually recovered, as demonstrated at a follow-up examination four months after discharge.

Topics: Acute Kidney Injury; Adult; Biopsy; Chronic Disease; Drug Combinations; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Fumarates; Humans; Kidney; Powders; Psoriasis