Analgesic nephropathy

Disease	Injury	Nutrition	Poison

Special Topic	Surgery	Symptoms	Test

Male urinary system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Analgesic nephropathy

Alternative Names:

Phenacetin nephritis; Nephropathy - analgesic

Symptoms:

weakness
fatigue
increased urinary frequency or urgency
blood in the urine
flank pain or back pain, renal colic (occasional)
decreased urine output
decreased alertness
decreased sensation, numbness (especially of extremities)
nausea, vomiting
easy bruising or bleeding
swelling, generalized

Note: There may not be any symptoms.

Signs and tests:

An examination may be unrevealing but may indicate interstitial nephritis or renal failure. The blood pressure may be elevated. There may be signs of fluid overload, including abnormal heart or lung sounds. Premature skin aging may be evident.

A urine toxicology screen may be positive for salicylate.
A urinalysis shows blood and white cells.
A CBC may show anemia, with decreased number of red blood cells.
A histology (examination) of sediment or tissue passed in the urine may show necrotic (dead) papillary tissue.
An IVP (intravenous pyelogram) may show papillary necrosis (tissue death) or sloughed papillae in the renal pelvis or ureter.

Review Date: 12/1/2001
Reviewed By: Andrew Koren, M.D., Department of Nephrology, NYU-Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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