Reversible renal failure and nephrotic syndrome without interstitial nephritis from zomepirac.

This report describes two patients with the clinical syndrome of reversible renal failure and nephrotic syndrome caused by the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, zomepirac sodium. What is unique about this report are the pathologic findings on renal biopsy which showed fusion of foot processes consistent with minimal change disease without evidence of an interstitial infiltrate. A cause-and-effect relationship of the disease to zomepirac administration is strongly suggested by the resolution of the renal dysfunction when the drug was stopped and by more than eighteen months of follow-up without evidence of any impairment in renal function.