[Contrast medium-induced renal failure : Useful protective measures prior to contrast medium administration]

Iodinated contrast is essential for diagnosis and treatment in contemporary interventional cardiology. An important complication of percutaneous intervention is contrast-induced nephropathy, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, while prolonged hospitalization is responsible for economic consequences.

This article reviews the definition of contrast-induced nephropathy, the role of biomarkers in early diagnosis to identify high-risk patients and potential therapeutic options for preventing acute nephropathy.

The optimization of patients' circulating volume remains the main aspect for preventing contrast-induced nephropathy, as recent studies confirm. Several medications are known to be nephrotoxic, whereas several are nephroprotective and the subject of recent research.

Interventions to improve outcomes of established acute kidney injury have not been developed as yet. Prevention and early diagnosis are relevant factors in clinical management. It is important to identify patients at risk and to treat them preemptively.