The incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of acute kidney injury (staged using the RIFLE classification) associated with intravenous acyclovir administration

Intravenous (IV) acyclovir is commonly administered medication for viral infection but is well known for its nephrotoxicity. However, there was no study for incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) associated with IV acyclovir administration. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 287 patients who were medicated IV acyclovir from January 2008 to May 2013 in Gyeongsang National University Hospital. All had documented medical histories and underwent medical review. Demographic data, risk factors, concomitant drugs, laboratory findings and outcome were gathered from the medical records and analyzed. AKI occurred in 51 patients (17.8%). As per RIFLE classification, renal injury was graded as either at risk of renal dysfunction (62.7%), renal injury (15.6%), and renal failure (21.6%). There was no significant difference in age, sex, total dose, drug duration, and presence of hydration between AKI and non-AKI group. However, systolic pressure, underlying diabetes, concomitant vancomycin and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) use was positively correlated with AKI occurrence (p = .04, p < .001, 0.01, and 0.04, respectively). Two patients underwent hemodialysis and these patients died. Higher mortality was observed in AKI patients (p < .001). Multivariate analysis also presented that presence of diabetes, concomitant NSAIDs, and vancomycin use was independent risk factor of acyclovir associated with AKI (p = .001, OR 3.611 (CI: 1.708–7.633), p = .050, OR 2.630 (CI: 1.000–6.917), and p = .009, OR 4.349 (CI: 1.452–13.022), respectively). AKI is relatively common in patients administrating acyclovir injection. Physicians should attempt to prevent, detect, and manage acyclovir associated AKI in patients prescribing acyclovir due to possible association of poor prognosis.