Chemotherapy-induced tubulopathy: a case report series

TL;DR

This paper reports four cases where chemotherapy caused kidney dysfunction resembling rare genetic disorders.

Contribution

The study highlights chemotherapy as a cause of tubulopathy, expanding understanding of its nephrotoxic effects.

Findings

Chemotherapy can induce tubular dysfunction with Bartter-like or Gitelman-like features.

Patients showed biochemical signs including hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, and hypomagnesemia.

The findings suggest platinum-based chemotherapy may lead to acquired tubulopathies.

Abstract

Acquired tubulopathies are frequently underdiagnosed. They can be characterized by the renal loss of specific electrolytes or organic solutes, suggesting the location of dysfunction. These tubulopathies phenotypically can resemble Bartter or Gitelman syndrome). These syndromes are infrequent, they may present salt loss resembling the effect of thiazides (Gitelman) or loop diuretics (Bartter). They are characterized by potentially severe hypokalemia, associated with metabolic alkalosis, secondary hyperaldosteronism, and often hypomagnesemia. Tubular dysfunction has been described as nephrotoxic effects of platinum-based chemotherapy. We present 4 cases with biochemical signs of tubular dysfunction (Bartter-like/Gitelman-like phenotype) related to chemotherapy.