Chemotherapy-associated renal insufficiency in cancer patients.

Abstract

Abstract Background: Malignancy or its treatment can produce a variety of renal disease and renal insufficiency frequently complicates malignancy and its treatment. The aim of this study is to assess the effect of different chemotherapeutic agents on the renal function of patients receiving treatment in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Methodology. This is a retrospective study of Glomerular filtration rate assessment among patients who received chemotherapy in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria from December, 2012 to November, 2013. Results: 473cascs were studied. The mean age was 50+ 15.5 years. The peak age range was 4 th decade 123(26%). Common cancers treated were breast cancer (159 cases), cervical cancer (103 cases) and prostate (35 cases). Stages recorded were stage III, 193(40.8%), stage II, 150 (31.7%), stage IV, 115 (24.3%), stage I, 15(3.2%). Treatment modalities revealed that 115(24.2%) had a combination of surgery and chemotherapy, 106 (22.4%) had chemotherapy alone, while 103 (21.8%) had a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. There was a marked decrease in average GFR from 106.92 at beginning of treatment to 70.49 after completion of chemotherapy. The use of cisplatin showed the highest reduction in the GFR(43 %)after completion of chemotherapy. Conclusion: Renal Insufficiency is common in cancer patients and drug dosage adjustments might be necessary. Renal function should be evaluated in all cancer patients in a bid to identify patients with a high risk for drug toxicity.