title: Nephrotoxicity of contrast media and protective effects of acetylcysteine.
abstract: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) accounts for approximately 10% of all causes of hospital-acquired renal failure, causes a prolonged in-hospital stay, and represents a powerful predictor of poor early and late outcome. N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is a thiol compound classically known as a mucolytic agent, which is a potent antioxidant that scavenges a wide variety of oxygen-derived-free-radicals and may be capable of preventing acute kidney injury. In the present study, we will review (1) the pathophysiology of the CI-AKI and (2) the experimental and clinical data on the effects of NAC in preventing CI-AKI.
authors.affiliation: Clinica Mediterranea, Laboratory of Interventional Cardiology, Naples, Italy. carlobriguori@clinicamediterranea.it
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briguori
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quintavalle
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Micco
authors.forename: Gerolama
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Condorelli
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005100:Expectorants / Q000494:pharmacology; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003287:Contrast Media; D005100:Expectorants; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D020011:Protective Agents; D003404:Creatinine; D000111:Acetylcysteine