NSAIDs: Renal Effects

In healthy patients, renal function is not dependent on prostaglandin formation for optimal function. In patients with pathophysiology such as CHF, hepatic cirrhosis, CKD, or hypovolemia, however, renal function becomes more dependent on the effects of prostaglandin for optimal functioning. Prostaglandins have several renal-specific effects: vasodilation, maintenance of glomerular filtration rate, sodium, chloride, and water elimination, and inhibition of the action of antidiuretic hormone. As a result, susceptible kidneys that may rely on the vasodilatory effects of prostaglandins for adequate blood flow in a compromised pathophysiological state, may then not receive adequate flow when these effects are inhibited by NSAIDs.