Vnitr Lek 2026, 72(1):47-50 | DOI: 10.36290/vnl.2026.007

Acute kidney injury induced by synthetic cannabinoids

Eva Zvárová¹, Jan Václavík²

¹ Ústav laboratorní medicíny a Interní a kardiologická klinika FN Ostrava

² Interní a kardiologická klinika FN Ostrava

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a potentially life-threatening condition with a range of possible causes that can be didactically classified as prerenal, renal, and postrenal. Differential diagnosis of the etiologically heterogeneous renal subgroup of AKI requires a comprehensive approach and includes, among others, vasculitides, systemic connective tissue diseases, infectious disorders and intoxication with medications or drugs. This case report describes a 21-year-old patient admitted to the internal medicine department with non-oliguric stage III AKI of unclear etiology, clinically dominated by dyspeptic symptoms. Imaging and laboratory tests, including extensive immunological and microbiological panels, did not lead to conclusive findings. Only during a repeated medical history interview did the patient admit to prior use of a synthetic cannabinoid, which he initially denied. The intoxication was subsequently confirmed by additional toxicological analysis demonstrating the metabolite of the synthetic cannabinoid MDMB-PINACA. This case highlights the nephrotoxic potential of synthetic cannabinoids and underscores the key importance of an accurate medical history in the diagnostic process.

Keywords: AKI, acute kidney injury, intoxication, K2, MDMB-PINACA, Spice, synthetic cannabinoids.

Accepted: February 3, 2026; Published: February 12, 2026  Show citation