Amphotericin B Toxicity

Abstract

A follow-up evaluation was done on 53 patients treated with amphotericin B. These data show that an increase in the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) during therapy may not be a valid reason to discontinue this therapy. Advanced age of the patient is a factor that increases the probability for the development of permanent impairment of renal function. The data further indicate that impairment of renal function, both acute and permanent, is not a doserelated phenomenon. Instead, it is an individualized and as yet an unpredictable response. The creatinine clearance during therapy may be reduced by as much as 78% of the pretreatment values and still return to the pretreatment value within 1 to 2 months after the completion of therapy.