CIPROFLOXACIN-INDUCED NEPHROTOXICITY IN PATIENTS WITH CANCER

Nephrotoxicity associated with ciprofloxacin is uncommon. Five patient s with cancer who developed acute renal failure that followed treatmen t with ciprofloxacin are described and an additional 15 cases reported in the literature are reviewed. Other than elevation of serum creatin ine levels, characteristic clinical manifestations and abnormal labora tory findings are not frequently present. Allergic interstitial nephri tis is believed to be the underlying pathological process. Definitive diagnosis requires performance of renal biopsy, although this is not a lways feasible. An improvement in renal function that followed the dis continuation of the offending antibiotic supports the presumptive diag nosis of ciprofloxacin-induced acute renal failure.