Legal Performance-enhancing Drugs Alter Course and Treatment of Rhabdomyolysis-induced Acute Kidney Injury.

This article investigates the effects of the legal performance-enhancing drugs caffeine and ibuprofen on rhabdomyolysis-induced acute kidney injury (RIAKI) and its treatment in a mouse model. The study found that ibuprofen significantly worsens RIAKI, as evidenced by reduced glomerular filtration rate, increased blood urea nitrogen, and decreased urine output, and that standard fluid resuscitation and experimental cilastatin treatment do not mitigate this effect. In contrast, caffeine did not exacerbate RIAKI, although it modestly increased blood urea nitrogen without affecting renal function or histology. These findings suggest that ibuprofen use may complicate RIAKI management and impact the efficacy of emerging treatments like cilastatin, with potential implications for military and civilian populations at risk of RIAKI.