Acute renal tubular dysfunction following cis-dichlorodiammine platinum therapy.

Following single, high dose (3 mg/kg) DDP therapy seven patients with head and neck cancer developed significant serum electrolyte disturbances. Hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia, hypokalemia, and hypophosphatemia were the most clinically significant electrolyte abnormalities. Renal clearance studies support a pathologic mechanism of a diffuse renal tubular leakage not associated with renal failure.