Role of acetaminophen in reducing risk of kidney injury from Rhabdomyolysis: A Narrative Review

Background: Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical syndrome that results in releasing myoglobin content from damaged muscle cells into circulation and often causes acute kidney injury (1). Different mechanisms are considered to be responsible in rhabdomyolysis and renal failure. However, free radical generation is the most important mechanism resulting in kidney injury. Thus, the effect of various antioxidants has been investigated. Acetaminophen, with antioxidant ability in therapeutic dose, has shown a considerable protective effect on kidney after muscle injury. The investigations have shown that acetaminophen enhances renal function, decreases renal damage and reduces oxidant injury. The aim of this review was to summarize proven evidences for etiology to renal injury and abilities of acetaminophen in reducing it. Methods: Articles published from 2010 to 2017 in PubMed and Google Scholar were covered in this review. The articles investigating the role of free radical in renal injury following Rhabdomylosis were searched using the keywords Rhabdomyolysis, kidney and oxidative stress. The keywords used to find articles regarding antioxidant ability of acetaminophen were antioxidant and acetaminophen. Conclusion: With assessment of evidences form antioxidant capacity of acetaminophen and mechanism of renal failure in Rhabdomyolysis, this drug can be useful for prevention and treatment of kidney injury especially following rhabdomyolysis.