GENTAMICIN-INDUCED BARTTER-LIKE-SYNDROME

Gentamicin is well known to be associated with including acute renal f ailure and renal tubular dysfunction. A Bartter-like syndrome has also been described as a toxic manifestation of gentamicin therapy in adul ts, but this nephrotoxic syndrome has not been well characterized in c hildren. In this report we describe the clinical course of four patien ts with gentamicin-associated Bartter-like syndrome. These patients ra nged in age from 4 months to 17 years; they all demonstrated evidence of renal tubulopathy, primarily affecting the distal nephron. Hypocalc emia, hypomagnesemia, alkalosis, and hypokalemia were the main manifes tations in these patients. After discontinuation of gentamicin, recove ry of the renal tubular functions and resolution of the electrolyte ab normalities were complete in all patients.