The epidemiology of the acute flank pain syndrome from suprofen

Among nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, suprofen has a propensity to cause an unusual syndrome of acute severe flank pain, often bilateral and often accompanied by acute renal failure. Based on data presented here, risk factors for this syndrome include male sex, hay fever and asthma, participation in exercise, and alcohol consumption. Possible risk factors include a young age, concurrent use of analgesic agents, preexisting renal disease, a history of kidney stones, a history of gout, residence in the Sunbelt, a recent increase in activity, and a recent increase in sun exposure. Most of the factors are consistent with the postulated pathogenic mechanism of acute diffuse crystallization of uric acid in renal tubules