Nephrotoxicity of antiviral therapies.

An ever-increasing variety of antiviral medications are being used clinically for an array of viral infections ranging from hepatitis to HIV. Some of these medications, such as acyclovir and foscarnet, have significant nephrotoxicity, whereas others are associated only rarely with renal failure. The spectrum of renal lesions associated with antiviral nephrotoxicity suggests that these medications may cause renal failure by affecting tubular cells or glomeruli. In most instances of antiviral-related nephrotoxicity, discontinuation of the offending agent results in a rapid return to normal renal function.