Nephrotoxicity of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) as measured by urinary beta-glucuronidase.

Urinary beta-glucuronidase activity as a measure of renal tubular damage was studied in 23 patients receiving 43 courses of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) therapy. A 250% increase in urinary beta-glucuronidase activity was noted after therapy, compared with values before therapy. There were no patients who sustained renal insufficiency as evidenced by more commonly used and coarser parameters of renal function. This marked rise in urinary beta-glucuronidase activity was felt to indicate tubular toxicity due to the cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) not measured by the usual parameters of renal function.