title: Prevention of radiocontrast-media-induced nephrotoxicity by the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine: a prospective randomised clinical trial.
abstract: Despite the development of new non-ionic low-osmolality contrast media, nephrotoxicity of intravascular radio-opaque contrast media remains a severe clinical problem, particularly in patients with risk factors. Widely accepted mechanisms of contrast-media-induced nephrotoxicity are disturbances of renal microcirculation due to prolonged intrarenal vasoconstriction, and direct damaging effects on glomerular and tubular cells. Calcium channel blocking agents have been shown experimentally and clinically to ameliorate ischaemic and toxic renal injury. In the present prospectively randomised, double-blind clinical trial, we investigated a total of 35 patients after intravascular administration of contrast media to determine the effects on renal function of a 3-day treatment with the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine (20 mg/day orally, starting 1 day before X-ray examination, n = 16), compared to findings in a placebo-treated control group (n = 19). Despite the fact that baseline renal function was significantly more compromised in the investigational group, the prophylactic application of nitrendipine preserved the glomerular filtration rate, whereas control patients showed a significant (27%) reduction in GFR on day 2 after contrast-media injection (P less than or equal to 0.01). Moreover, the increase in enzymuria of three different renal enzymes (gamma-GT, AAP, and beta-NAG), as well as urinary protein excretion, was significantly ameliorated by nitrendipine. These data confirm previous findings of our group in patients after kidney transplantation, indicating that prophylactic and/or therapeutic application of calcium channel blockers is of substantial value in preventing ischaemic or toxic renal injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Klinikum Steglitz, Freie Universität Berlin, FRG.
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Neumayer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Junge
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Küfner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wenning
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009568:Nitrendipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012079:Renal Circulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D009568:Nitrendipine