Suprofen-Related Nephrotoxicity

We describe a unique clinical syndrome of flank pain and acute renal failure that is associated with suprofen, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that has recently been made available in the United States. In the initial 6 months of the drug's distribution in this country, at least 16 patients developed this syndrome. All 16 had acute flank pain and 13 developed mild reversible renal failure within 12 hours of ingestion of one to three suprofen capsules. This syndrome is unlike other nephrotoxic syndromes related to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The mechanism is not known.