trimethoprim--sulfamethoxazole-drug-combination and Leukemia--T-Cell

Hyperkalaemia with renal tubular dysfunction by oral therapy of sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (co-trimoxazole) is described in 2 elderly Japanese patients with lymphoid malignancy, who developed Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and improved. A high dose of cotrimoxazole induced hyperkalaemia with the elevation of serum creatinine and blood urea, and increased urinary N-acetyl glucosaminase after several days of the drug administration in these patients; one patient became unconscious. Discontinuation of co-trimoxazole normalized serum potassium level and symptoms. A repeated low dose of the drug induced hyperkalaemia. Before the treatment of co-trixomazole, their serum levels of creatinine showed upper limits of normal ranges. In the present study, our cases suggested that patients receiving a high dose of co-trimoxazole should be evaluated for these potential complications during a course of treatment, particularly in elderly patients with preexisting renal dysfunction.

Topics: Aged; Humans; Hyperkalemia; Hyponatremia; Kidney Diseases; Kidney Tubules; Leukemia, T-Cell; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin; Male; Middle Aged; Pneumonia, Pneumocystis; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination