Vitamin E as a protective antioxidant in progressive renal failure

Progression to renal failure is significantly worsened by oxidative stress in chronic inflammatory kidney disease (IgA nephropathy, antiglomerular basement membrane nephritis, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis), rhabdomyolysis (myoglobinic acute renal failure), diabetic nephropathy and in poisoning by nephrotoxic compounds such as transition metals, paraquat and drugs such as cyclosporine A and cisplatin. The membrane antioxidant vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) is examined as a potential therapeutic intervention that may help to slow the rate of decline of kidney function in such conditions. An impaired plasma antioxidant defence system is characteristic of chronic renal failure and the uremic state. Vitamin E therapy is also considered as a means of correcting plasma antioxidant status and attenuating the cardiovascular disease that accompanies kidney failure.