Hair Straightening and Acute Kidney Injury: A Case Series from a Medical Toxicology Service

This case series from Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv identifies a potential link between glyoxylic acid-containing hair-straightening products and acute kidney injury (AKI) in 13 female patients, with 12 developing AKI after exposure. Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain, and 27% of patients showed calcium oxalate crystals in their urine. All patients were treated with intravenous fluids, and 61.5% received thiamine and pyridoxine, with early treatment preventing kidney injury in one case. No patients required hemodialysis, and there were no fatalities. The study suggests a causal relationship between these hair products and nephrotoxicity, emphasizing the need for further research and regulatory measures to prevent future cases. Early intervention with thiamine and pyridoxine may help mitigate kidney damage.