Avaliação dos efeitos nefrotóxicos da associação do tacrolimus (FK 506) e anti-inflamatórios não-hormonais em ratos

Abstract

Introduction: Tacrolimus (FK 506) is a potent immunosuppressive drug that may cause nephrotoxicity decreasing the renal blood flow (RBF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may cause nephrotoxicity, interfering with renal hemodynamics and fluid and eletrolyte homeostasis. Recently, new selective COX-2 inhibitors have been developed producing less side effects (gastric, cardiac and renal) related to COX-1 inhibition. The increasing use of FK 506 and the intensive use of NSAIDs with analgesic or ani-inflammatory purposes, increases the possibility of a drug combination, potentiating the nephrotoxic risk of the two drugs. Objective : Compare the renal function of rats receiving combination therapy with FK and a non-selective COX inhibitor, sodium diclofenac (SD) with those receiving FK and a selective COX-2 inhibitor, rofecoxib (RO). Material and Methods : Male Munich-Wistar rats receiving a low sodium diet (0.06%) for 7 days and gavage treatment for 7 days with FK (2 mg/kg/day), SD (10 mg/kg/day), RO (3 mg/kg/day), FK+SD, FK+RO and vehicle (control) were used. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR, inulin clearance, ml/min/100g); renal blood flow (RBF, Doppler ultrasound, ml/min); mean blood pressure (MBP, intracarotid probe, mmHg); renal vascular resistence ( RVR, mmHg/ml/min); hematocrit (Htc); urinary volume ( UV, μl/min); solute clearance; renal histology; animal weight (g) and FK serum concentration (SCFK, ng/ml) were assessed. Results are presented as a mean±standart deviation and compared by ANOVA followed by Student-Neuman-Keuls test. Results : The GRF of the SD group was 0.98±0.03, RO 1.06±0.04 and FK 0.99±0.06 similar to control values (1.10±0.05). GRF values decreased in the FK+RO (0.86±0.06;p<0.05 vs RO and Control) and FK+SD (0.63±0.06;p<0.001 vs control, FK and SD groups and p<0.01 vs FK+RO) groups. RBF, MBP, RVR and Htc values were similar in all groups. Diuresis was lower in the groups with drug combination, but there was a statistically significant difference only between FK+SD and RO groups (8.38±0.46 vs 12.99±1.22;p<0.05). There were no significant histological chan ges in the treatment groups. The FK+SD group showed statistically significant weigth changes (-18±5) when compared to the Control and RO groups (6±2 and 5±2, respectively; p<0.001) and to the SD an FK+RO groups (0.2±4 and 1±2, respectively; p<0.01). SCFK was significantly decreased (p<0.05) for FK+SD and FK+RO (1.7±0.3 and 1.8±0.4) groups when compared to the FK group (3.2±0.4. Conclusions: The combination of FK and a non-selective COX inhibitor significantly decreased GFR regardless of a RBF decrease or RVR increase, and is probably a result of Kf decrease. The trend to antidiuresis was similar for the combination of FK with both classes of NSAIDs. FK combined to a non-selective COX inhibitor caused a mild systemic toxicity when compared with the COX-2 selective inhibitor. Serum FK concentrations were significantly lower in NSAIDs treated animals.