Radiocontrast medium-induced declines in renal function: a role for oxygen free radicals

Intrarenal injection of radiocontrast medium (RCM) results in transient vasoconstriction and a persistent decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Adenosine modulates this vasoconstrictor response and is postulated to increase oxygen free radical (OFR) generation. We hypothesized that the persistent decline in (GFR that follows RCM administration results in an increased generation of OFR. We evaluated the effects of RCM injection on renal blood flow, inulin clearance, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and malondialdehyde concentrations in four groups of non-volume-expanded, pentobarbital sodium anesthetized dogs in the presence and absence of intravenous allopurinol, 25 mg/min (group 1), intrarenal superoxide dismutase (SOD), 400 U/min (group 2), heat-inactivated intrarenal SOD, 400 U/min (group 3), and simultaneous infusions of intrarenal SOD, 400 U/min, to one kidney and saline to the other (group 4). Both allopurinol and SOD significantly attenuated the fall in GFR after RCM administration over control. Malondialdehyde concentrations were attenuated over control in all treated groups, indicating a decrease in OFR generation. We conclude that intrarenal injection of RCM results in increased production of OFR. Inhibition of OFR production by allopurinol and increased OFR removal by SOD attenuates the effects of RCM on declines in GFR.