title: Acetylcysteine and contrast agent-associated nephrotoxicity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prophylactic acetylcysteine along with hydration seems to be better than hydration alone in preventing the reduction in renal function induced by a contrast dye.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Contrast media can lead to acute renal failure that may occasionally require hemodialysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred eighty-three consecutive patients with impairment of renal function, undergoing coronary and/or peripheral angiography and/or angioplasty, were randomly assigned to receive 0.45% saline intravenously and acetylcysteine (600 mg orally twice daily; group A, n = 92) or 0.45% saline intravenously alone (group B, n = 91) before and after nonionic, low-osmolality contrast dye administration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline serum creatinine concentrations were similar (1.5 +/- 0.4 mg/dl in group A vs. 1.5 +/- 0.4 mg/dl in group B; p = 0.37). An increase of > or =25% in the baseline creatinine level 48 h after the procedure occurred in 6 (6.5%) of 92 patients in group A and in 10 (11%) of 91 patients in group B (p = 0.22). In the subgroup with a low (<140 ml) contrast dose, renal function deterioration occurred in 5 (8.5%) of 60 patients in group B and in 0 of 60 patients in group A (p = 0.02; odds ratio [OR] 0.44, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.35 to 0.54). In the subgroup with a high contrast dose, no difference was found (5/31 vs. 6/32 patients, p = 0.78). By multivariate analysis, the amount of contrast agent, but not the treatment strategy, was a predictor of the occurrence of contrast dye-associated nephrotoxicity (OR 2.58, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.9; p = 0.035).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with reduced renal function undergoing angiography and/or angioplasty, the amount of contrast agent, but not the administration of prophylactic acetylcysteine, was a predictor of renal function deterioration. Prophylactic acetylcysteine might provide better protection than hydration alone, only when a small volume of contrast agent is used.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Interventional Cardiology and Department of Cardiology, Clinica Mediterranea, Via Orazio 2, I-80121 Naples, Italy. cabrig@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briguori
authors.forename: Fiore
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manganelli
authors.forename: Pierfranco
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scarpato
authors.forename: Pietro Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Elia
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Golia
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riviezzo
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lepore
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Librera
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Villari
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ricciardelli
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012107:Research Design; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004396:Coloring Agents; D003287:Contrast Media; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D003404:Creatinine; D005978:Glutathione; D000111:Acetylcysteine