Renal injury associated with laxative abuse.

Surreptitious laxative abuse is a common cause of unexplained diarrhea, but has not been considered an important cause of irreversible electrolyte and renal functional abnormalities. We have described five patients with the laxative abuse syndrome associated with significant renal injury and electrolyte disorders. We conclude that laxative abuse, like analgesic abuse, is a cause of interstitial renal disease that is more common than generally recognized.