Study Evaluating the Use of RenalGuard to Protect Patients at High Risk of AKI

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) can occur after cardiovascular procedures using contrast media, which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. RenalGuard is a closed-loop system designed to match intravenous hydration with diuretic-induced diuresis that has shown mixed results in the prevention of CIN in previous randomized controlled trials.

The STRENGTH (Study Evaluating the Use of RenalGuard to Protect Patients at High Risk of AKI) study assessed whether RenalGuard (PLC Medical Systems) is superior to standard intravenous hydration for CIN prevention in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing complex cardiovascular procedures.

STRENGTH is a multicenter, international, open-label, postmarket, prospective, randomized (1:1) study monitored by the Cardiovascular European Research Center (Massy, France) that included a total of 259 patients with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (estimated glomerular filtration 15-40 mL/min/m²) requiring a complex coronary, structural, or peripheral procedure with an expected contrast injection of at least 3 times the estimated glomerular filtration rate. Patients were randomized to either RenalGuard or intravenous saline hydration according to current guidelines.

The primary endpoint, the incidence of CIN at day 3 after the procedure, was similar between the 2 groups (17/107 [15.9%] in the RG group vs 15/110 [13.9%] in the control group; P = 0.62). In addition, none of the secondary endpoints differed between the 2 groups.

In high-risk patients undergoing complex cardiovascular interventions in experienced centers, furosemide-induced high urine output with matched hydration using the RenalGuard system did not reduce the risk of CIN and adverse outcomes at 12 months compared with conventional intravenous hydration.