Acute Renal Failure from Adulteration of Milk with Melamine

Vincent L. Yang,Daniel Batlle

doi:10.1100/tsw.2008.137

Abstract

Recently, four deaths, 50,000 illnesses, and 12,000 hospitalizations from presumed exposure to melamine in infant formula have been reported in China. While there are very few data on the nephrotoxic effects of melamine in humans, studies on animals have shown that melamine, in particular in combination with cyanuric acid, causes deposition and precipitation of birefringent crystals thereby causing renal failure. This has prompted the FDA to revisit their stance on melamine and has led to the development of standard protocols to test for melamine and cyanuric acid in infant formula. has led to the development of standard protocols to test for melamine and cyanuric acid in infant formula.

Highlights

The commentary by Drs Lattupalli, Yee, and Kolluru is one of the few we can find in the scientific literature on this topic[2]
Much of the available information comes from the contamination of pet foods in 2007 that caused renal failure in cats and dogs
The culprit pet food was manufactured in China and was found to contain melamine and cyanuric acid, which were believed to be the causative agents[3]

Summary

Introduction

The commentary by Drs Lattupalli, Yee, and Kolluru is one of the few we can find in the scientific literature on this topic[2]. We thought this topic to be important and worth an editorial comment. There are very few data on the nephrotoxic effects of melamine in humans.

Results

Conclusion