Anti vascular endothelial growth factor agents in nephrology clinical practice

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a subfamily of growth factors that play an essential role in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. VEGFs stimulate the creation of new blood vessels during embryonic development and collaterals to bypass blood vessel obstruction and/or vascular injury. Anti-VEGF agents were approved as a new promising management for solid tumors and their metastasis, as well as retinal vascular disorders. Their use was associated with significant nephrotoxic effects. Hypertension, proteinuria, microscopic angiopathy, electrolyte imbalance, and chronic kidney disease were reported as common and serious VEGF inhibitors complications, which may affect the management plan. In this review, we tried as much as possible to summarize what has been discussed in the literature about the nephrotoxic effects of anti-VEGF agents.