Acute renal failure after analgesic drugs including paracetamol (acetaminophen).

Seven patients with acute renal failure after ingestion of analgesic drug combinations including paracetamol were seen. They presented with oliguric renal failure and restitution of renal function was complete. Only 2 patients had severe liver damage and 2 patients had no signs of liver abnormality. Renal biopsies, studied by light and electron microscopy, in 3 patients showed focal tubular epithelial cell necrosis. Focal vascular damage, predominantly of endothelial cells, was also present in all specimens. This vascular injury was found in various locations in the kidney, including the glomerular and peritubular capillaries and small arterioles. This suggests that microvascular damage is an important mechanism for the renal injury after analgesic drugs.