POTENTIAL NEPHROTOXICITY OF 2ND GENERATIO N CEPHALOSPORINS - CEFUROXIME VERSUS CEFOTIAM

Forty-one hospitalized patients were randomized to be treated with cef uroxime (4.05 g/die) or cefotiam (5.30 g/die). Several patients receiv ed additionally furosemide (0.5 mg/kg body weight) intravenously. Seru m creatinine and creatinine clearance did not show significant differe nces during versus after treatment in any of the groups. Cefotiam or c efotiam/furosemide treated patients displayed higher proteinuria and h igher urinary excretion of lysosomal enzymes (leucine aminopeptidase) than patients treated with cefuroxime or cefuroxime/furosemide. Our da ta indicate higher tubulotoxicity of cefotiam compared to cefuroxime.