A case of severe nephrotoxicity associated with long-term dietary supplement use.

We report a 65-year-old male who had very heavy daily intake of dietary supplements for 3 years. He presented with acute kidney injury and nephrotic-range proteinuria. The renal biopsy showed acute tubular necrosis with vacuolization, acute interstitial nephritis, and secondary membranous nephropathy, consistent with an non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-like nephropathy. This was postulated to be related to the cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors (anthocyanins) in cherry extract that was a significant part of the patient's dietary supplement use. His proteinuria completely resolved and serum creatinine stabilized after discontinuation of all dietary supplements and a prolonged (5 months) course of prednisone. Clinicians are advised to specifically inquire about dietary supplements, especially cherry extract, as a potential cause of new-onset renal failure and proteinuria.
. PMID: 28766491 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Clinical Nephrology - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Clin Nephrol Source Type: research