Citation

Paula Santos U, Zanetta DM, Terra-Filho M, Burdmann EA. Kidney Int. 2014; 87(4): 792-799.

Affiliation

Medical Investigation Laboratory 12 (LIM-12), Division of Nephrology, University of São Paulo Medical School, São Paulo, Brazil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1038/ki.2014.306

PMID

25229334

Abstract

Sugarcane harvesting has been associated with an epidemic of chronic kidney disease in Central America mainly affecting previously healthy young workers. Repeated episodes of acute kidney dysfunction are hypothesized to be one of the possible mechanisms for this phenomenon. Therefore, this exploratory study aimed to assess the acute effects of burnt sugarcane harvesting on renal function among 28 healthy non-African Brazilian workers. Urine and blood samples were collected at the beginning and at the end of the harvesting season and before and at the end of a harvesting workday. All individuals decreased their estimated glomerular filtration rate by ∼20% at the end of the daily shift, and 18.5% presented with serum creatinine increases consistent with acute kidney injury. Those changes were associated with increased serum creatine phosphokinase (a known marker for exertional rhabdomyolysis) and oxidative stress-associated malondialdehyde levels, increased peripheral blood white cell counts, decreased urinary and serum sodium, decreased calculated fractional sodium excretion, and increased urine density. Thus, burnt sugarcane harvesting caused acute renal dysfunction in previously healthy workers. This was associated with a combination of dehydration, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and rhabdomyolysis. Kidney International advance online publication, 17 September 2014; doi:10.1038/ki.2014.306.

Language: en