A case of acute renal failure related to chronic abuse of thinner sniffing

Abstract

This report describes a case of acute renal failure, necessitating hemoialysis, caused by chronic abuse of thinner sniffing. An 18-year-old male, who had inhaled thinner four or five times a week for about a year, visited our hospital for nausea and vomitting. He was administered antiemetics, but his symptoms did not improve, so he returned three days later. He was admitted as the laboratory data showed severe hepato-renal damage. Physical examination revealed no definite abnormalities except for hepatomegaly and epigastric tenderness. Biochemical analyses showed that the serum levels of GOT, GPT, ALP, LDH, γGTP, BUN and Cr were elevated. Abdominal echoraphy showed swelling of the liver and both kidneys. After admission, hepatic functions improved quickly, but the serum levels of BUN and Cr continued to rise. Consciousness became increasingly drowsy, so hemodialysis was begun. After four sessions of hemodialysis, renal function recovered to the normal range. “Glue sniffing” is generally regarded as a relatively harmless practice, but this report shows that it may cause serious organ dysfunction.