[Acute renal failure due to multiple stings by Africanized bees. Report on 43 cases].

UNLABELLED: This study reports on acute renal failure (ARF) due to multiple stings by Africanized bees (AB) occurring in 43 cases collected between 1982 and 2007 (at the Nephrology Section, University of Antioquia School of Medicine and San Vicente de Paul University Hospital, Medellin, Colombia). No intervention on patient care was performed except for responding the Nephrology consult and prescribing dialysis. Data obtained from the medical records included demography; clinical presentation; laboratory results on admission; evolution of renal function to document improvement and normalization; intervals between stings and outcomes; number of dialysis sessions; length of follow-up and hospitalization; survival; and mortality. Not all patients had complete data and therefore, the number of observations is included where required. Mean age was 56 ± 26 yr (range 2-96); 37 (86%) were men; 38 (of 41 cases) came from rural areas (91%); 22 (of 39) were farmers (56.4%); 33 (of 41) lived in Medellin or in the department of Antioquia (80.5%). Number of stings per patient: ~ 900. Interval between stings and ARF < 48 hours: in 31 cases (72.1%; mean 2.6 ± 2.6 days; range 1-12); 37 (of 43) required dialysis (86%); mean number of sessions: 4.7 ± 3.3 (range 1-12). Survival occurred in 36 cases (83.7%) and mortality, in 7, all > 60 yr (16.3%). At last follow-up, renal function improvement was documented in 36 (83.7%) and normalization in 15 of them (41.7%). Interval until initiation of diuresis: 10.6 ± 6.8 days (range 1-25). Duration of hospitalization: 16.9 ± 8.7 days (range 1-39). FOLLOW-UP: 25.2 ± 18.3 days (range 1-75). Hematuria and oliguria occurred before 24 hours; there was an increase of CPK in 90%, of ALT in 96%, of AST in 89%, of DHL in 95%, and of BUN and creatinine in 100%. Based on our findings and on the review of the available information, we propose that this type of ARF occurs as a result of rhabdomyolysis with subsequent myoglobinuria, which lead to nephrotoxic acute tubular necrosis; a variable degree of direct nephrotoxicity, not quantifiable with current diagnostic methods, is also probably involved. A better knowledge of this entity by the medical community could improve care and prognosis of the patients who develop it.