Renal Complications of Drug Addiction

The kidney is one of the target organs involved as a consequence of the systemic complications seen in drug abusers. This may manifest itself in one of the following forms: acute hepatitis with modest proteinuria (less than 2 Gm. per day); bacterial endocarditis with hematuria, azotemia, and a focal or diffuse glomerulonephritis; the nephrotic syndrome with focal mesangial sclerosis and diffuse interstitial nephritis often pursuing a fulminant course terminating in uremia; acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria; polyarteritis nodosa with renal involvement; and obstructive uropathy secondary to fungus ball in the urinary tract.