Nephrotoxicity Associated with Acute Paracetamol Overdose: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

A 29-year-old, 65 kg, Chinese man presented to hospital 10 hours after ingesting 30 g of paracetamol (462 mg/kg body weight). The blood paracetamol level was 145 µg/ml at 10 hours post-ingestion. He had no known risk factors for hepatotoxicity and was treated with intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Serum creatinine level rose to a maximum of 455 µmol/L on day 8; it gradually declined without the need for dialysis. Little is known of the risk factors for nephrotoxicity, which may occur with or without concurrent liver damage, suggesting possible primary toxic effects on the kidney. The use of NAC in this case may have prevented the progression to liver failure and reduced the severity of the nephrotoxic effects.