Serum antioxidant capacity and the risk of contrast medium nephropathy

The use of contrast medium can result in an acute reduction in renal function. The exact mechanism of this side effect is not yet fully understood. There is accumulating evidence that reactive oxygen species have a role in renal damage. Prophylactic administration of antioxidant drugs could prevent this reduction in renal function. We examined whether there is a correlation between the antioxidant capacity of the serum and the risk of contrast medium nephropathy.

We studied prospectively 193 patients with normal renal function who underwent cardiac catheterization. Serum haptoglobin, uric acid, albumin and the total antioxidant capacity were measured before the injection of contrast media. Serum urea and creatinine concentrations were measured before angiography and on days 3 and 7 following the procedure.

Eleven patients developed mild renal failure. We compared the serum levels of antioxidant compounds of this group with the serum levels of these compounds in patients who did not develop renal damage. No statistical significant difference in the baseline levels of antioxidant species was found between the two groups.

These prospective data indicate that among low-risk patients with normal renal function, baseline levels of antioxidant material did not predict the possible development of contrast medium nephropathy.