Pharmacological interventions for the prevention of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in high-risk adult patients undergoing coronary angiography: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

• Published in: Open heart Vol. 6; no. 1; p. e000864
• Main Authors: Sharp, Alexander J, Patel, Nishith, Reeves, Barney C, Angelini, Gianni D, Fiorentino, Francesca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.01.2019; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Original research article
• Subjects: Bias; Clinical trials; Disease prevention; Drug dosages; Hydration; Kidney diseases; Medical imaging; Meta-Analysis; Pathogenesis; Studies; Systematic review; Coronary angiography; coronary intervention (PCI); renal disease; contrast media
• ISSN: 2053-3624; 2398-595X; 2053-3624
• DOI: 10.1136/openhrt-2018-000864

ObjectiveQuantify the efficacy of strategies to prevent contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) in high-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) with or without percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).BackgroundCI-AKI remains a common problem. The renoprotective efficacy of existing pharmacological agents remains uncertain in high-risk populations.MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs) to compare different strategies versus hydration in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing CAG±PCI. Primary outcome was incident CI-AKI. Fixed-effects meta-analyses estimated ORs, 95% CIs and heterogeneity.ResultsForty-eight RCTs were included. Seven pharmacological strategies were evaluated by multiple RCTs and 10 by one RCT each. These had varying risk of bias; >25% of trials were at high risk of performance bias. Five strategies significantly reduced the odds of CI-AKI: N-acetylcysteine (NAC) (27 trials, 5694 participants; OR=0.77, 95% CI 0.65 to 0.91, p=0.002, I2=36%), ascorbic acid (four trials, 759 participants; OR=0.59, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.89, p=0.01, I2=0%), statin (two trials, 3234 participants; OR=0.59, 95% CI 0.39 to 0.89, p=0.75, I2=0%), trimetazidine (two trials, 214 participants; OR=0.27, 95% CI 0.10 to 0.71, p=0.01, I2=0%) and nicorandil (two trials, 389 participants; OR=0.47, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.94, p=0.03, I2=52%). Theophylline had a similar, but non-significant, effect. A subgroup analysis found that the benefit of NAC was highest in patients requiring a high-contrast dose.ConclusionsSeveral drugs are renoprotective in patients with CKD undergoing CAG±PCI. The evidence is strongest for NAC. We recommend that NAC should be used when a high dose of contrast is anticipated.Trial registration numberPROSPERO registration CRD42014014704.Open Science Framework link: https://osf.io/vxg7d/?view_only=62bad0404b18405abd39ff2ead2575a8