Ifosfamide nephrotoxicity in pediatric cancer patients

The renal functions in pediatric cancer patients who received ifosfamide (IFO) treatment were evaluated and the risk factors related to IFO nephrotoxicity were determined. The medical records of all children treated with IFO were reviewed, and 62 with normal renal function before IFO treatment were selected. Nephrotoxicity was diagnosed by measuring urine β₂-microglobulin and glucose, and serum phosphate, bicarbonate, and creatinine. Forty-eight (77.4%) had a history of previous cisplatin treatment. Nephrotoxicity was detected in 20 patients (32.3%). β₂-Microglobulinuria was observed in all 20, hypophosphatemia in 10 (16.1%), hypocarbia in 2 (3.2%), glucosuria in 5 (8.1%), and decreased creatinine clearance in 7 (11.3%). The cumulative dose of IFO and a history of previous cisplatin therapy were related to nephrotoxicity. Among the 20 patients with nephrotoxicity, the median cumulative dose of IFO in patients with a low (<500 mg/m²) and high (>500 mg/m²) cumulative dose of previous cisplatin was 80 g/m² (73–102 g/m²) and 45 g/m² (11–76 g/m²), respectively. Most of the nephrotoxicity persisted after cessation of IFO treatment. In conclusion, close monitoring of IFO nephrotoxicity should be started earlier in patients with high-dose cisplatin pretreatment. Tubular proteinuria, as indicated by β₂-microglobulinuria, was the most-sensitive marker for IFO nephrotoxicity. Long-term follow-up study for reversibility of IFO nephrotoxicity is in progress. Received: 19 February 2001 / Revised: 15 May 2001 / Accepted: 18 May 2001