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nephrotoxin

nephrotoxin

9.9
A chemical or medicine that damages the kidneys
  • noun
  • /ˌnɛfroʊˈtɒksɪn/
  • Specialized
: nefrotóxico
  • Some antibiotics are classified as nephrotoxins due to their potential to damage renal tissues.

Examples

  • Some antibiotics are classified as nephrotoxins due to their potential to damage renal tissues.

  • Certain drugs act as nephrotoxins and must be used carefully.

  • Exposure to a nephrotoxin can result in acute kidney failure if not promptly treated.

  • The research focused on identifying the effects of each nephrotoxin in laboratory animals.

  • A nephrotoxin can lead to serious kidney damage.

  • Exposure to a nephrotoxin can result in acute kidney failure if not promptly treated.

  • Certain drugs act as nephrotoxins and must be used carefully.

How Harmful

nephrotoxicity
  • Specialized
1 9.9
nephrotoxin
  • Specialized
9.9
irritant
15 6.0

Surface Forms

nephrotoxin singular
nephrotoxins plural

Morphology

nephrotoxin = toxin (semi-transparent) = nephro + toxin

The combining form 'nephro-' denotes 'kidney' in medical vocabulary but is not a familiar productive morpheme for average learners, so the compound is only partially guessable.

Etymology

Nephrotoxin comes from an old Greek root nephro- meaning 'kidney' and toxin meaning 'poison', so it literally means a 'poison to the kidneys'.