Nephrocalcinosis and Foam Cell-rich Medullary Interstitial Nephropathy in a Patient with Laxative-induced Hypokalemia
Abstract
Chronic laxative abuse is a known cause of hypokalemia; however, the full spectrum of kidney-related consequences remains underexplored. We herein report the incidental identification of hypokalemia and kidney dysfunction in a 62-year-old woman with long-standing laxative dependence. Imaging revealed bilateral multifocal renal calcification and a renal biopsy demonstrated extensive tubulointerstitial fibrosis with prominent clustering of CD68-positive foam cells in the medullary interstitium. These findings suggest a potential link between laxative-induced hypokalemia, renal calcification, and foam cell infiltration. Therefore, this case may represent a rare or underrecognized presentation, thereby underscoring the need for the clinical awareness of laxative abuse.
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BibTeX
@article{miyashita2026nephrocalcinosis,
title = {{Nephrocalcinosis and Foam Cell-rich Medullary Interstitial Nephropathy in a Patient with Laxative-induced Hypokalemia}},
author = {Aoi Miyashita and Kei Matsumoto and Go Kanzaki and Akimitsu Kobayashi and Ryoko Sakaguchi and Shiko Honma and Kensuke Joh and Nobuo Tsuboi and Takashi Yokoo},
journal = {Internal Medicine},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.2169/internalmedicine.6686-25},
url = {https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/65/21/65_6686-25/_article},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nephrocalcinosis and Foam Cell-rich Medullary Interstitial Nephropathy in a Patient with Laxative-induced Hypokalemia
AU - Aoi Miyashita
AU - Kei Matsumoto
AU - Go Kanzaki
AU - Akimitsu Kobayashi
AU - Ryoko Sakaguchi
AU - Shiko Honma
AU - Kensuke Joh
AU - Nobuo Tsuboi
AU - Takashi Yokoo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Internal Medicine
DO - 10.2169/internalmedicine.6686-25
UR - https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/internalmedicine/65/21/65_6686-25/_article
AB - Chronic laxative abuse is a known cause of hypokalemia; however, the full spectrum of kidney-related consequences remains underexplored. We herein report the incidental identification of hypokalemia and kidney dysfunction in a 62-year-old woman with long-standing laxative dependence. Imaging revealed bilateral multifocal renal calcification and a renal biopsy demonstrated extensive tubulointerstitial fibrosis with prominent clustering of CD68-positive foam cells in the medullary interstitium. These findings suggest a potential link between laxative-induced hypokalemia, renal calcification, and foam cell infiltration. Therefore, this case may represent a rare or underrecognized presentation, thereby underscoring the need for the clinical awareness of laxative abuse.
SN - 1349-7235
SN - 0918-2918
ER -