Common Analgesic Agents and Their Roles in Analgesic Nephropathy: A Commentary on the Evidence.
10.4082/kjfm.2016.37.6.310
- Author:
Julian YAXLEY
1
Author Information
1. Department of Medicine, Redcliffe Hospital, Redcliffe, QLD, Australia. julianyaxley@yahoo.com.au
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords:
Nephropathy;
Analgesics;
Renal Insufficiency
- MeSH:
Acetaminophen;
Analgesia;
Analgesics*;
Analgesics, Non-Narcotic;
Aspirin;
Eating;
Renal Insufficiency;
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine
2016;37(6):310-316
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
An association between non-opioid analgesic agents and chronic kidney disease has long been suspected. The presumed development of chronic renal impairment following protracted and excessive use of non-opioid analgesia is known as analgesic nephropathy. Many clinicians accept analgesic nephropathy as a real entity despite the paucity of scientific evidence. This narrative review aims to summarize the literature in the field. The weight of available observational literature suggests that long-term ingestion of paracetamol and combination mixtures of aspirin and paracetamol are likely to contribute to chronic renal impairment. However, there is no convincing data to implicate non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or aspirin monotherapy in the development of analgesic nephropathy. In the absence of high-level evidence, while controversy persists, it may be prudent for physicians to consider all non-narcotic analgesics to be nephrotoxic with long-term use.
