近20年来,从澳大利亚和欧洲报导止痛药引起肾病的病例数不断增加,但北美较少见。最近在加拿大各医学院附属医院进行调查,证实有300例以上的肾损害与滥用止痛药有关,占在Ontario地方全部进行定期透析治疗病人的5.5％。这是导致须要肾移植治疗的第4种最常见的肾脏病;显然这是可以防止的或者部分地可恢复的,故明确诊断极重要。 Nearly 20 years have seen reports of painkillers causing kidney disease in Australia and Europe, but North America is rare. A recent survey at Canadian medical colleges and affiliated hospitals confirmed more than 300 kidney damage associated with abusing painkillers, accounting for 5.5% of all scheduled dialysis patients in Ontario. This is the fourth most common kidney disease that leads to renal transplant treatment; obviously this is preventable or partially recoverable, so a definitive diagnosis is extremely important.