Exacerbation of renal dysfunction following contrast media study in diabetic patients

It has been generally assumed that contrast media used for excretory urography are safe even in the presence of renal insufficiency. Recently, however, several reports of acute oliguric renal failure have been documented in diabetic patients after excretory urography. We also have experienced three cases of acute renal failure following contrast media study in diabetic patients. For the purpose of investigating the effect of contrast media on renal function, we examined serum creatinine, BUN, K+ levels and urine volume before and after intravenous pyelography (IVP), drip-infusion pyelography (DIP) or angiography in twenty diabetic patients. As controls, twenty patients with non-diabetic renal diseases were selected. From this study, it is concluded that contrast media study had better be avoided in diabetic patients providing with renal disturbance (creatinine level more than 3.0 mg/dl) and severe retinopathy.