PARACETAMOL POISONING AND THE KIDNEY

Nephrotoxicity is less common than hepatotoxicity in paracetamol overdose but renal tubular damage and acute renal failure occur even in the absence of heptotoxicity. It is possible that antidotal therapy with agents such as N-acetylcysteine may not prevent renal toxicity and, indeed, on the basis of animal work, may actually potentiate tubular damage. Careful clinical attention should be paid to renal function in patients poisoned with paracetamol.