Evidence-Based Approach for Prevention of Radiocontrast-Induced Nephropathy
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CLINICAL UPDATE CME Evidence-based Approach for Prevention of Radiocontrast-induced Nephropathy Bassam G. Abu Jawdeh, MD Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Rammelkamp Abbas A. Kanso, MD Center for Research, Cleveland, Ohio. Jeffrey R. Schelling, MD Disclosure: Nothing to report. The frequency of radiocontrast administration is dramatically increasing, with over 80 million doses delivered annually worldwide. Although recently developed radiocontrast agents are relatively safe in most patients, contrast nephropathy (CN) is still a major source of in-hospital and long-term morbidity and mortality, particularly in patients with preexisting kidney disease. Multiple protocols for CN prevention have been studied; however, strict guidelines have not been established, in part because of conflicting efficacy data for most prevention approaches. In this work, we critically review the major trials that have addressed common CN prophylaxis strategies, including type of radiocontrast media, N-acetylcysteine administration, extracellular fluid volume expansion, and hemofiltration/hemodialysis. We conclude with evidence-based recommendations for CN prevention, which emphasize concurrent NaHCO3 infusion and N-acetylcysteine administration. These guidelines should be helpful to hospitalists, who frequently order radiocontrast studies, and could therefore have a significant impact on prevention of CN. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2009;4:500–506. VC 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine. KEYWORDS: acute kidney injury, N-acetylcysteine, NaHCO3, nephrotoxicity, radioiodinated contrast. Since contrast nephropathy (CN) was recognized more than (12.1% vs. 3.7% and 44.6% vs. 14.5%, respectively).7 Another 50 years ago,1 there have been continuous efforts to chemi- study of 1826 patients, who underwent coronary artery cally modify radiocontrast agents to be less nephrotoxic. intervention procedures, showed that 14.4% developed CN Although radiocontrast media have indeed become safer, and 0.8% required hemodialysis. Mortality was 1.1% in which reduces the likelihood of CN per procedure, the indi- patients who did not develop CN, 7.1% in those with CN, cations for radiocontrast administration have dramatically and 35.7% in the hemodialysis-treated CN group.8 Moreover, increased, since over 80 million doses are delivered in the studies by several other groups also support the position world annually.2,3 Furthermore, the number of patients with that CN is associated with increased in-hospital and long- CN risks, which are mainly chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) term mortality.9–11 Although radiocontrast administration and diabetes (Table 1), has also grown. Currently, more than may not be a causal risk factor for mortality, since at-risk 26 million people are estimated to have CRI in the United patients have a number of comorbidities, radiocontrast States4 and 200 million people have diabetes worldwide.5 media should nevertheless at least be viewed as an impor- The combination of increased radiocontrast administration tant marker of acute kidney injury and death risk. frequency and greater prevalence of at-risk patients is likely Despite the enhanced morbidity and mortality associated to result in continued increases in CN events. with CN, there are no strict guidelines for prevention of CN. The incidence of CN varies between studies, depending Part of the reason is that the literature is controversial on risk factors of the cohort and definition of CN, but fig- regarding most prevention strategies. Several interventions ures have been reported to be as high as 50% in studies are commonly proposed to help prevent CN, including dis- enriched with CRI and diabetic patients. However, a very criminate selection of the type of radiocontrast, N-acetylcys- recent study disputes such high incidence rates by demon- teine, volume expansion with saline and/or NaHCO3, and strating that patients receiving no radiocontrast media had prophylactic hemofiltration. The major purpose of this a similar frequency of serum creatinine increases compared review is to discuss these different approaches to CN pre- to a comparable group of historical CN patients.6 This study vention, with the ultimate goal of offering discrete emphasizes that conventional definitions of CN, eg, 25% recommendations. increase in serum creatinine above baseline, may be too The basis of this semisystematic review was a literature conservative. search using the PubMed database (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ A retrospective study of 7586 patients showed 22% in- sites/entrez) to identify studies published in English lan- hospital mortality in patients who developed CN vs. 1.4% in guage journals between January 1966 and July 2008 compar- those who did not, after adjusting for comorbidities. One- ing regimens for prophylaxis of CN. Search terms included and 5-year mortality rates were also higher in the CN group contrast, radiocontrast, radioiodinated AND nephropathy, 2009 Society of Hospital Medicine DOI 10.1002/jhm.477 Published online in wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). 500 Journal of Hospital Medicine Vol 4 No 8 October 2009 The Iohexol Cooperative Study was a double-blind, TABLE 1. Risk Factors for Contrast Nephropathy randomized, controlled trial (RCT) that randomized 1196 Clear Risks Probable Risks Questionable Risks patients to Iohexol (low osmolarity ) or diatrizoate (hyperos- molar). Definition of CN was a rise in serum creatinine by Estimated GFR Diabetes mellitus* Repeat contrast procedures >1 mg/dL within 48 to 72 hours after the radiocontrast ex- <60 mL/minute/1.73 m2, especially if due to posure. Results were in favor of the iohexol group (3% diabetic nephropathy* developed CN vs. 7% in the diatrizoate group; P ¼ 0.002). Concomitant use of Age >75 years Subgroup analysis of patients with CRI and CRI plus diabe- nephrotoxic drugs tes also revealed less CN in the iohexol vs. diatrizoate Hemodynamic instability Male gender groups (7% vs. 16% and 12% vs. 27%, respectively).13 Congestive heart failure Intraaortic balloon pump Large contrast volume Liver disease An earlier non-RCT of 303 patients undergoing femoral y (>100 mL) angiography compared iohexol/ioxaglate (both are low Intraarterial contrast Peripheral vascular disease osmolar) to diatrizoate (hyperosmolar). Six different CN def- administration initions were used. Each comprised a combination of differ- Hypertension ent magnitudes of rise of serum creatinine over various Anemia z Bence-Jones proteinuria periods of time. Overall, the incidence of CN was 7% in the P ¼ Hyperuricemia low osmolar group vs. 26% in the hyperosmolar group ( 0.001). In subgroup analysis of patients with CRI, and of Abbreviations: CN, contrast nephropathy; CT, computed tomography; GFR, glomerular filtration rate; patients with diabetes, less CN was again observed with low IVC, inferior vena cava.. osmolar agents (10% vs. 41%, P ¼ 0.017, in the CRI group; * Diabetes is neither sufficient nor necessary, but amplifies the risk for CN. y and 10% vs. 31%, P ¼ 0.012, in the diabetes group). Analysis Volumes >100 mL are commonly used in diagnostic and therapeutic cardiac catheterizations, periph- < eral and cerebrovascular angiographies, CT angiography for cardiac imaging and excluding pulmonary of subjects with baseline serum creatinine 1.5 mg/dL embolism. For IVC filter placement, approximately 30 mL is used. showed no differences between the 2 groups, emphasizing z Risk is negligible with newer generation radiocontrast media and adequate hydration. that prior CRI is an important CN risk factor.14 The RECOVER study was a double-blind RCT of 300 patients undergoing coronary angiography, who were nephrotoxicity, renal failure, kidney injury AND N-acetylcys- randomized to iodixanol (isoosmolar) or ioxaglate (low teine, Mucomyst, sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3, hemofiltra- osmolarity). CN was defined as a rise in serum creatinine by tion, continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH), the- >25% or 0.5 mg/dL at 24 and 48 hours. CN incidence was ophylline, statin, ascorbic acid, dopamine, fenoldopam, 7.9% in the iodixanol group vs. 17% in the ioxaglate group adenosine, and endothelin. The total number of articles that (P ¼ 0.021). Subgroup analyses of patients stratified by met the search criteria exceeded 3000 and over 200 in high severe CRI, diabetes, and contrast volume also favored profile biomedical journals were scrutinized in detail. The iodixanol.15 In a similarly designed, double-blind RCT articles cited in this review were independently considered involving 129 patients with diabetes and CRI randomized to by 2 authors (B.G.A. and J.R.S.) to have the greatest impact. iodixanol or iohexol, CN developed in 3% of iodixanol group We report on prophylactic maneuvers that are either vs. 26% in the iohexol group (P ¼ 0.002).16 These results commonly considered by nephrology consultants or contain were further supported by a very recent double-blind RCT sufficient data to warrant a meta-analysis study. Studies comparing iodixanol to iopromide (low osmolar) in 117 involving statins, ascorbic acid, dopamine analogs, endothe- patients with baseline serum creatinine 1.5 mg/dL under- lin antagonists, and theophylline were not addressed in this going CT scans. The incidence of serum creatinine increases review due to insufficient, inconclusive, or predominantly of 0.5 mg/dL or 25% above baseline or glomerular filtra- negative data. Clinical characteristics and pathogenesis of tion rate (GFR) reduction of 5 mL/minute was significantly CN, which include vasoconstriction,