Renal gallium accumulation in rats with antibiotic-induced nephritis: clinical implications. Concise communication.

To determine the effect of antibiotic-induced nephrotoxicity on the renal accumulation of gallium, groups of ten Sprague-Dawley rats were given intraperitoneal injections of gentamycin, amphotericin, or neomycin for a period of 16--21 days. In all cases, mild to moderate nephrotoxicity was documented by one or more of the following parameters: serum creatinine, renal weight, urine volume (renal concentrating ability), light microscopy, and electron microscopy. In none of these cases was the renal accumulation of gallium increased over control values. Consequently, diffuse renal accumulation of gallium in patients with subclinical or mild nephrotoxicity is unlikely to be related to short-term treatment with aminoglycosides or amphotericin. In such cases, the physician should seek some other clinical explanation, such as infection.