How the treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders may be infl uenced by the kidneys

Summary: The treatment of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) diseases may, under specific conditions, be significantly influenced by the kidneys or by kidney disorders. One of the potential scenarios of such interaction is the concurrent involvement of the kidneys and the GIT organs within one disorder, another option being the negative impact of impaired renal function on the prognosis of the GIT disease and, finally, the need for an adequate choice and dose adjustment of renally eliminated medication to avoid nephrotoxicity. Renal impairment may occur as an adverse effect of the treatment of the GIT condition and may limit further therapy. In this context we have recently focused on the following clinical situations: the development of acute kidney injury during treatment with proton pump inhibitors, renal complications of inflammatory bowel disease management and the development of acute phosphate nephropathy due to the use phosphate containing laxatives. An early identification of the mechanisms leading to renal injury can prevent the development of irreversible renal lesions and facilitate an efficient treatment of the GIT. Key words: treatment of gastrointestinal tract disorders – acute kidney injury – proton pump inhibitors – renal complications of inflammatory bowel disease – acute phosphate nephropathy