Comparative nephrotoxicity of aspirin and phenacetin derivatives.

Both aspirin and phenacetin derivatives were shown to be nephrotoxic when administered to rats as a single intravenous injection. Phenacetin derivatives tended to produce more severe renal damage and to be nephrotoxic in smaller doses than aspirin derivatives. With the exception of a single derivative, the renal lesions were confined to the proximal convoluted tubule, even after administration of compounds which under other conditions have induced renal papillary necrosis.