Reno-protective effect of N-acetyl cysteine in patients with impaired renal function undergoing coronary angiography...

The increasingly frequent use of contrast enhanced imaging for diagnosis or interventions in patients with CAD has generated concern about avoidance of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). Reactive oxygen species have been shown to cause CIN.

Angiographic contrasts worsen the renal function in patients with renal failure. We studied the reno-protective action of the antioxidant N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC) in patients undergoing coronary procedures.

Retrospective analysis of 51 patients with elevated serum creatinine levels (> or = 15mg%) was done, 24 of whom received NAC prior to the procedure(NAC group) and 27 who did not (Non NAC group). NAC was administered in a dose of 400 mg twice daily for four doses starting on the day prior to the procedure. Both groups of patients were hydrated with 0.45% saline at 1 ml/kg/hr for 12 hours prior to and 12 hours following the procedure. Both groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, coronary risk profile, myocardial infarction history, left ventricular function and the drugs received. Serum urea and creatinine were measured on the day prior to and the day following the angiographic procedure.

Nine out of 51 patients developed more than 0.5mg% rise in serum creatinine level; 1 in the NAC group and 8 in the non NAC group (p<0.05), 24 hours after injection of the contrast medium. In the NAC group mean serum creatinine level decreased from 1.94 +/- 0.56 to 1.67 +/- 0.56 and blood urea from 47.58 +/- 20 to 41.58 +/- 15.1. In the non NAC group serum creatinine increased from 1.75 +/- 0.31 to 1.98 +/- 0.56 and blood urea from 44.96 +/- 15.5 to 52.85 +/- 20.1 (p<0.05). This corresponds to an increase in creatinine clearance from 30ml/min to 35.92ml/min in the NAC group and a decrease from 34.42ml/min to 29.87ml/min in the non NAC group. There was no significant difference in the levels of sodium and potassium before and after the procedure in both the groups.

We conclude that prophylactit administration of N-Acetyl Cysteine along with hydration diminishes the incidence of deterioration of renal function induced by contrast agents in patients with renal insufficiency during coronary angiographic procedures.