Fleet Kidney Failure

Recent studies have shown that a number of people have had Fleet kidney failure or a reduction in kidney function following a pre-colonoscopy procedure.

A colonoscopy is a medical procedure used to check the large intestine for polyps and abnormalities. To prepare for the colonoscopy procedure, affected patients were instructed to use a bowel cleansing solution called Fleet Phospho-Soda, which is an oral sodium phosphate (OSP) once available over the counter.

When used as directed, Fleet Phospho-Soda flushed the colon of feces, making it easier for doctors to see inside. However, in the days and weeks following the bowel cleansing, some patients experienced a serious injury to their kidneys, called acute phosphate nephropathy. This led to decreased kidney functions, and, in some cases, the need for dialysis or transplant.

The kidney acts as a filter for the body, screening out toxins in the blood. Think of boiling a pot of spaghetti in hot water and then draining it in a colander. The colander will filter out the spaghetti, allowing the water to flow out cleaner. A healthy kidney works like the colander�it can get rid of the spaghetti-or toxins in the blood. The toxins are then taken out of the body through urine.

Researchers believe that when patients used Fleet Phospho-Soda, debris from the solution built up in the kidney. As a result, the filtering system in the kidney (called the nephrons) was not able to filter blood effectively, and so those toxins were re-circulated in the body.

In addition to filtering toxins, the kidney also helps produce hormones that regulate blood pressure, produces a hormone that helps make red blood cells and balances the body�s fluid content.

Because of the kidney�s vital role in the body, when it�s not functioning at an acceptable level, symptoms can be pervasive, including tiredness, shortness of breath, decreased urine output and swelling in the legs. More serious symptoms include confusion, seizures and coma.

Some kidney failures can be reversed, but at advanced stages, kidneys may not be able to recover their full functionality.

The Food and Drug Administration warned that Fleet Phospho-Soda should not be used as an over the counter bowel cleansing solution, and Fleet has complied.

Acute Phosphate Nephropathy (Kidney Failure)

�Acute phosphate nephropathy, a type of acute renal failure, is a rare, but serious adverse event associated with oral sodium phosphate bowel cleansing.

�When acute phosphate nephropathy occurs, renal impairment is often permanent and may require chronic dialysis.

�Individuals at increased risk include: those of advanced age, those with decreased intravascular volume or kidney disease, and those using medicines that affect renal perfusion or function [diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), and possibly nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)].

David Whitney is author of this article on Fleet recall. Find more information about Fleet kidney failure here.