Pentazocine addict nephropathy: a case report.

: Medical complications associated with narcotic addiction include bacterial endocarditis, pneumonia, pulmonary embolism and renal disease. Renal disorders associated with pentazocine abuse are rarely reported. They vary with method of administration, dosage, and duration of abuse. We describe a 33-year-old male addict, using intravenous pentazocine for 6 years. He has nephrotic syndrome with a rapid deterioration of renal function to a uremic stage within 3 weeks. The laboratory data includes: IgG 1270 mg/dl, IgA 369mg/dl, IgM 326mg/dl, C'3 65.2 mg/dl, C'4 16.3 mg/dl, and serum soluble interleukin-2 receptor level (sIL-2R) greater than 6000U/ml. A renal biopsy revealed membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) type I with tubulointerstitial nephritis. Immunofluorescent (IF) study revealed granular deposition of C'3 and IgM in mesangium and the glomerular capillary wall. The pathogenesis of glomerular disease in drug addicts is discussed, and the literature reviewed.