Germanium Dioxide-Induced Nephropathy: A New Type of Renal Disease

Abstract

Chronic renal failure developed in 5 patients who were taking germanium dioxide (GeO₂)-containing compounds. Renal functional deterioration was slow but progressive and dialysis treatment was necessitated temporarily in 2 patients. After the discontinuation of GeO₂, the impaired renal function tended to improve but remained abnormal for an observation period of 10–40 months. The lack of proteinuria and hematuria was characterized as the clinical manifestations. Renal biopsy specimens revealed the tubular epithelial cell degeneration containing hematoxylin-positive fine granules on light microscopy, and electron-dense inclusions in the swollen mitochondria on electron microscopy. These findings localized mainly in distal segment of the tubules. In the rats given GeO₂ orally for 10 weeks, similar histological lesions were evident, as manifested by marked weight loss, anemia, azotemia, and negative proteinuria. In the rats given carboxyethylgermanium sesquioxide, these changes were not observed and Ge concentration of kidney was significantly lower than in the rats given GeO₂. The present study indicates that chronic GeO₂ intake causes progressive renal dysfunction characterized by the degeneration of distal tubules.

Dose Dependency of Germanium-Dioxide-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats

“…Recently, other similar cases have been reported in Japan [10][11][12]. Since the so-called Ge-contain ing compounds used in our cases contained G e 0 2, we reported the incidents as G e 0 2-induced nephropathy [13]. However, the nephrotoxicity of G e 0 2 has not been fully clarified.…”

Germanium in ginseng is low and causes no sodium and water retention or renal toxicity in the diuretic-resistant rats

“…Ours and previous data confirmed that the ginseng samples generally contain low levels of Ge. Thus, the high Ge content observed in commercial ginseng preparations (as mentioned in Sanai et al 1 ) cannot stem from the ginseng plant itself, but an artificial supplementation.…”

“…1,2 Thus, the contents of Ge in ginseng as well as the influence of ginseng on renal functions are of great concern.…”

Study on the Equilibria of the Complex Formation of the Ion-pair of Germanium(IV) with 4-Nitrocatechol and 1,4-Diphenyl-3-(phenylamino)-1H-1,2,4-triazole

“…; A -absorbance; l -cell thickness, l = 1 cm; n = 2 e Calculated by Likussar-Boltz method (equation (9)); f Calculated by equation (7). bility of the ion-associated complex in the organic solvent.…”

“…Pharmaceutical preparations, containing germanium are effectively applied in treatment of a wide range of serious afflictions, including cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis and acute renal failure. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] The germanium is a third row post-transition metal and its chemistry has developed considerably in the recent years, indicated by the large number of publications in the scientific literature. Germanium(IV) forms complexes with various natural organic ligands containing O, N and S donor atoms such as polyphenols and their functional derivatives, polyhydroxycarboxylic acids, aminopolyhydroxycarboxylic acids, thiopolycarboxylic acids, 8-hydroxyquinoline and its derivatives, aromatic derivates of hydroxyaldehydes and hydroxyketones, hydroxyazodyes.…”