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Indinavir, used for the treatment of HIV disease, forms distinctive crystals in the urine. The crystalluria has been associated principally with several urinary tract abnormalities which may require discontinuation of the drug. We present a case of progressive leucocyturia and renal impairment occurring during indinavir treatment which illustrates vividly the impact of the crystalluria on the tubulointerstitial renal compartment.

Indinavir is a potent HIV-1 protease inhibitor included in current antiretroviral therapeutic regimens. It is associated with renal and urological complications ascribed to indinavir crystalluria. We have previously reported that indinavir crystalluria is frequently observed soon after initiation of therapy. In a cohort of 54 asymptomatic indinavir-naive HIV-1-infected individuals during their first year of treatment with indinavir, approximately 25% of urinalyses (U/A) contained indinavir crystals. Because the determinants of the crystalluria are unknown, we examined the relationship between urine specific gravity (SG) and pH, singly and in combination, and indinavir crystalluria in these subjects. A total of 579 U/A were obtained from the study subjects at their scheduled monthly outpatient medical assessments. The frequency of indinavir crystalluria was lower in U/A with lower pH, irrespective of the SG. Conversely, U/A with high pH (> or = 6.0) had a higher frequency of indinavir crystalluria, which was further influenced by the urine SG. As a result, nearly half of the U/A (46.7%) with high pH (> or = 6.0) and intermediate-high SG (> or = 1.015) contained indinavir crystals. In conclusion, the frequency of indinavir crystalluria in asymptomatic HIV-1 infected individuals during their first year of treatment with indinavir was markedly influenced by the urine pH and SG. Our findings suggest that low urine pH may have a protective effect against indinavir crystalluria across the entire range of urine SG.

Urinary complications observed during indinavir treatment of HIV disease are often attributed to indinavir crystalluria. In a prospective study of urinalysis during the first year of indinavir therapy, 5 of 54 asymptomatic HIV+ individuals presented severe leukocyturia (> or =100 cells/HPF) usually accompanying indinavir crystalluria. The clinical course of these 5 individuals, successfully treated for HIV and monitored for an second follow-up year, suggests that recurrence of severe leukocyturia may be an indicator of renal damage, likely tubulointerstitial disease caused by indinavir crystalluria. This is in contrast to the remaining 49 subjects, including those presenting mild leukocyturia, who did not demonstrate any evidence of renal disease. Regular urinalysis is therefore recommended in the clinical management of indinavir-treated individuals to detect early renal damage secondary to indinavir crystalluria and to prevent further renal impairment., (Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel)

Indinavir is a potent protease inhibitor widely used in combination with reverse-transcriptase inhibitors to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Individuals treated with indinavir are prone to develop urinary complications, including renal colic, renal calculi, lower urinary tract symptoms, and indinavir crystalluria. Although renal stones secondary to indinavir have been described and characterized, little is known about the onset, frequency, and significance of the crystalluria. To document the longitudinal characteristics of indinavir crystalluria and associated urine abnormalities, 54 asymptomatic indinavir-naive HIV-positive individuals had urinalysis testing initially weekly and then monthly during the first year of indinavir treatment. Six hundred eight urinalyses were performed (11 +/- 2 urinalysis/subject), including 579 microscopy examinations performed by a nephrologist (10 +/- 2 examinations/subject). Baseline urinalysis results were essentially normal. After the start of treatment, indinavir crystalluria was frequently observed (67% of subjects). After the first 2 weeks, indinavir crystalluria remained constant at a frequency of approximately 25% of urine sediments examined at each test point. Other urine abnormalities, principally leukocytes (>/=10/high-power field) and casts, were observed in 39% of subjects. These abnormalities were more severe in five subjects, with concomitant increasing serum creatinine levels in three of them. Additional urine findings include the predominance of low pH (/=1.025 in 66% of urinalyses). In conclusion, abnormal urinalysis results were noted frequently during the first year of treatment with indinavir. The main findings were the high proportion of subjects with crystalluria and the relatively high frequency of crystalluria observed consistently throughout. These findings may occasionally be associated with other urine abnormalities, presumably secondary to indinavir crystalluria.