Hyperuricemia and contrast-induced acute kidney injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hyperuricemia may be associated with an increased risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI). In recent years, studies about the relationship between them gradually appeared. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate whether hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for CI-AKI.

Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and CBM (Chinese Biomedical Literature database) databases until April 18, 2016, without language restriction. Observational studies evaluating serum uric acid (SUA) levels and CI-AKI risks were included. The pooled odds ratio was calculated to assess the association between hyperuricemia and risk of CI-AKI using a random-effects model.

Eighteen relevant studies involving a total of 13,084 patients met our inclusion criteria. Presence of hyperuricemia was associated with an increased risk of CI-AKI development regardless of whether the effect size was adjusted or not (unadjusted OR: 2.08, 95% CI: 1.63-2.64; adjusted OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.38-2.04). In-hospital mortality and cases of renal replacement therapy were significantly different between subjects with hyperuricemia and normouricemia undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) and/or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Hyperuricemia is independently associated with the occurrence of CI-AKI and it significantly increases the in-hospital mortality and the risk of renal replacement therapy among the patients after CAG and/or PCI. Future research is needed to determine whether urate-lowering therapy has beneficial effects for reducing the incidence of CI-AKI and in-hospital adverse events.