title: High-dose N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Whether N-acetylcysteine is beneficial for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy is uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of high-dose N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy. Our prespecified inclusion criteria were as follows: adult subjects; English language literature; administration of high-dose N-acetylcysteine a priori defined as a daily dose greater than 1200 mg or a single periprocedural dose (within 4 hours of contrast exposure) greater than 600 mg; prospective trials of individuals randomized to N-acetylcysteine, administered orally or intravenously, versus a control group; and trials that included the end point of the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy. Trials that compared N-acetylcysteine with another active treatment were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixteen comparisons of patients randomized to high-dose N-acetylcysteine versus controls met our prespecified inclusion criteria with a total sample size of 1677 subjects (842 assigned to high-dose N-acetylcysteine and 835 assigned to the control arm). The average population age was 68 years, 38.7% were diabetic, and the majority was male (67.8% of reported instances). The weighted mean baseline creatinine of the overall population was 1.58 mg/dL. No significant heterogeneity was detected (P = .09; I(2) = 34%). The overall effect size assuming a common odds ratio revealed an odds ratio of 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.63) for the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy with the use of high-dose N-acetylcysteine. The results of the more conservative random effects approach were similar (odds ratio = 0.52; 95% CI, 0.34-0.78). There was no evidence of publication bias (P = .34).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that high-dose N-acetylcysteine decreases the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology and Kidney Disease Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA. htrivedi@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Hariprasad
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Sumanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daram
authors.forename: Aniko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bartorelli
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marenzi
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D000111:Acetylcysteine