Renal consequences of rapid high dose contrast CT

A retrospective study of renal deterioration after high doses (80 g l) of intravenous contrast medium was done of 286 adult patients. The incidence, duration, and severity of renal deterioration were compared with those reported in a series of 377 similar patients after low dose contrast infusion (43 g l). No statistically significant difference between these groups was seen in nondiabetics with a preinfusion serum creatinine below 4.5 mg/dl. A prospective study of fractional excretions in 35 patients receiving high dose infusion demonstrated no additional subtle renal damage in 34 patients. One patient developed a transient rise in serum creatinine that was identical to the course of renal deterioration after 43 g of iodine. It is concluded that the severity and duration of renal deterioration was not affected by the dose of contrast material (43--80 g iodine).