Drug-induced nephropathy: a brief overview of prevention, diagnosis, treatment

Drug-induced nephropathy (DN) is a common cause of kidney injury in outpatients and hospitalized patients, affecting approximately 20% of the adult population. DN occurs especially often when patients are treated with antibiotics, antiviral, antitumor drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. A detailed collection of pharmacological and allergological history and assessment of potential risk factors for drug nephrotoxicity are key to DN prevention and diagnosis. The article briefly covers the mechanisms of development and clinical phenotypes of DN, criteria for diagnosis, principles of patient management, including general prevention of DN and prevention of kidney injury associated with certain medications.