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Contrast Induced Acute Kidney Injury (CI- AKI) - Myths and Realities
Kulwant Singh1, Vinant Bhargava2, Jyoti E Brar3
1Consultant, Department of Renal Sciences, Ivy Hospital, Mohali, Punjab.
Insights
Contrast Induced Acute Kidney Injury (CI-AKI) is a common hospital complication. Intravenous fluid hydration is the only proven prevention method, while other agents and hemodialysis are not recommended.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Radiology
- Cardiology
Background:
- Contrast Induced Acute Kidney Injury (CI-AKI) is a frequent complication in hospitalized patients undergoing procedures with contrast agents.
- Risk factors for CI-AKI include advanced age, diabetes, heart failure, proteinuria, and hypotension.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current strategies for preventing CI-AKI.
- To evaluate the efficacy of various preventative agents and procedures.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on CI-AKI prevention.
- Analysis of recommended and non-recommended prophylactic strategies.
Main Results:
- Intravenous fluid hydration with crystalloids is the sole recommended preventive measure for CI-AKI.
- Agents such as N-acetylcysteine, atrial natriuretic peptide, ascorbic acid, theophylline, and fenoldopam have not demonstrated a proven benefit.
- Prophylactic hemodialysis is not recommended for CI-AKI prevention.
Conclusions:
- Current evidence supports intravenous fluid hydration as the primary strategy for preventing CI-AKI.
- Many previously investigated agents and hemodialysis lack proven efficacy in CI-AKI prevention.
Abstract:
Contrast Induced Acute Kidney Injury (CI-AKI) is one of the most common causes of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients. These days, contrast agents are widely being used in both cardiology and radiology procedures. Old age, history of diabetes, heart failure, proteinuria and low blood pressure are some important risk factors in the pathogenesis of CI-AKI. Apart from risk stratification and the use of low and iso-osmolar contrast agents, intravenous fluid hydration with crystalloids is the only recommended strategy for the prevention of CI-AKI. Agents like N-acetylcysteine (NAC), atrial natriuretic peptide, ascorbic acid, theophylline, and fenoldopam have failed to show any proven beneficial role in the prevention of CI-AKI. Though hemodialysis is still being perceived by many clinicians as the modality for contrast removal but prophylactic hemodialysis is now not recommended for the prevention of CI-AKI.
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