Neue Aspekte zur Frage der Nephrotoxizität von Phenacetin

Summary Experiments on the metabolism of phenacetin in the rat are reported. Estimations of phenacetin, total acetyl-p-aminophenol,p-phenetidine and 2-hydroxyphenetidine-sulfate in the urine excreted after ingestion of phenacetin reveal an unusual dose-dependence of the metabolic pattern. The degradation of phenacetin through deacetylation to phenetidine is greatly enhanced by raising the dose. The results are briefly discussed in view of their possible significance in the development of analgesic nephropathy in man. As a working hypothesis for further experiments it is assumed, that phenetidine is the main toxic agent in nephropathy due to phenacetin abusus.