Acute renal failure due to radio-contrast agents

Over a 2-year period, acute renal failure following radio-contrast studies was observed in 25 patients after intravenous urography in 13, angiography in 10, oral cholecystography in 1, and cholangiography in 1. 20 had impaired renal function prior to the study. Renal failure, oliguric in 16 patients, occurred within 24 h. Serum creatinines reached levels of 5.3-13.3 mg% in 3-10 days. Recovery occurred in 20 patients within 5-37 days. Among the 5 patients in whom renal failure function was not restored, 1 died of progressive underlying renal disease and 4 of other causes while still in acute renal failure. These observations demonstrate the not infrequent occurrence of severe oliguric renal failure following radio-contrast study in patients with preexisting renal disease.