Acute renal failure caused by imiquimod 5% cream in a renal transplant patient: review of the literature on side effects of imiquimod.

Abstract

Imiquimod is an immunomodulator of the imidazoquinoline group which possesses antiviral and antitumour activities. Although its mechanism of action has not been entirely elucidated yet, imiquimod 5% cream has been shown to be an efficient, long-lasting and safe therapy for multiple actinic keratoses in non-immunosuppressed patients and in transplant recipients. We report the case of a 44-year-old patient with a third renal transplant who developed an acute tubular necrosis confirmed by renal biopsy after the use of imiquimod 5% cream. The result of a literature search revealed a wide variety of side effects attributable to the use of imiquimod.

• Authors: J Santos-Juanes, A Esteve, A Mas-Vidal, P Coto-Segura, E Salgueiro, E Gómez, C Galache Osuna
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 222 Issue 2 Pg. 109-12 ( 2011) ISSN: 1421-9832 [Electronic] Switzerland
• PMID: 21304243 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

Chemical References

• Aminoquinolines
• Interferon Inducers
• Creatinine
• Imiquimod

Topics

• Acute Kidney Injury (chemically induced, diagnosis, therapy)
• Adult
• Aminoquinolines (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Creatinine (blood)
• Humans
• Imiquimod
• Interferon Inducers (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• Kidney Transplantation (adverse effects)
• Male
• Renal Dialysis
• Treatment Outcome
• Warts (drug therapy, virology)