Effect of Zinc Sulfate on Kidney Function in Cisplatin-Treated Cancer Patients
ackground: cisplatin is a potent chemotherapeutic agent that is currently used in management of many and various types of tumors. Cisplatin causes dose-related nephrotoxicity that significantly affects kidney function and limits cisplatin use with maximum required dose and usefulness. This study was to assess the protective and ameliorativen effect of zinc sulfate on kidney function and nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin in cancer patients. Patients and methods: 41 patients were enrolled in the study and were randomized into two groups. Patients in group I (N=20) received cisplatin based regimen every 21 days for six consecutive cycles. Patients in group II (N=21) received zinc sulfate plus cisplatin based regimen during the six consecutive cycles of treatment. Serum urea, creatinine and magnesium levels were measured at base line and 21 days after 1, 2, 4 and 6 cycles of cisplatin based regimen. The glomerular filtration rate of patients was calculated according to updated version of the Modification of Diet in renal Diseases formula. Results: In group I, cisplatin based regimen after 6 cycles of treatment caused significant (P<0.05) increment in serum urea and creatinine and significant (P<0.05) decline in The glomerular filtration rate and magnesium in comparison to base line levels. Serum urea and creatinine levels of group II were significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of group I while glomerular filtration rate and magnesium were significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of group I. Conclusion: zinc sulfate significantly ameliorated nephrotoxicity and improving kidney function in cisplatin-treated patients. Keywords: zinc sulfate, cisplatin, kidney function, nephrotoxicity. Introduction Cisplatin is an alkylating-like agent with potent antitumor efficacy that is widely used in treatment of various types of cancers(1). Currently, cisplatin clinical use is complicated by the dose-dependent nephrotoxicity which can occure in form of acute kidney injury (AKI) in approximately 20-30% of patients(2) . Acute kidney injury accounts for increased morbidity and mortality (3) and thereby cisplatin dose should be decreased to avoid nephrotoxicity at the expense of maximum chemotherapeutic effectiveness.(1,3) .