Acetylcysteine protects against acute renal damage in patients with abnormal renal function undergoing a coronary procedure

J Am Coll Cardiol. 2002 Oct 16;40(8):1383-8. doi: 10.1016/s0735-1097(02)02308-2.

Abstract

Objectives: We sought to evaluate the efficacy of the antioxidant acetylcysteine in limiting the nephrotoxicity after coronary procedures.

Background: The increasingly frequent use of contrast-enhanced imaging for diagnosis or intervention in patients with coronary artery disease has generated concern about the avoidance of contrast-induced nephrotoxicity (CIN). Reactive oxygen species have been shown to cause CIN.

Methods: We prospectively studied 121 patients with chronic renal insufficiency (mean [+/-SD] serum creatinine concentration 2.8 +/- 0.8 mg/dl) who underwent a coronary procedure. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either acetylcysteine (400 mg orally twice daily) and 0.45% saline intravenously, before and after injection of the contrast agent, or placebo and 0.45% saline. Serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were measured before, 48 h and 7 days after the coronary procedure.

Results: Seventeen (14%) of the 121 patients had an increase in their serum creatinine concentration of at least 0.5 mg/dl at 48 h after administration of the contrast agent: 2 (3.3%) of the 60 patients in the acetylcysteine group and 15 (24.6%) of the 61 patients in the control group (p < 0.001). In the acetylcysteine group, the mean serum creatinine concentration decreased significantly from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to 2.5 +/- 1.0 mg/dl (p < 0.01) at 48 h after injection of the contrast medium, whereas in the control group, the mean serum creatinine concentration increased significantly from 2.8 +/- 0.8 to 3.1 +/- 1.0 mg/dl (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: Prophylactic oral administration of the antioxidant acetylcysteine, along with hydration, reduces the acute renal damage induced by a contrast agent in patients with chronic renal insufficiency undergoing a coronary procedure.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylcysteine / therapeutic use*
  • Aged
  • Comorbidity
  • Contrast Media / adverse effects
  • Coronary Angiography*
  • Coronary Disease / diagnostic imaging
  • Coronary Disease / epidemiology*
  • Coronary Disease / therapy
  • Creatinine / blood
  • Female
  • Free Radical Scavengers / therapeutic use*
  • Humans
  • Iopamidol / adverse effects
  • Kidney / drug effects*
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prospective Studies

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • Creatinine
  • Iopamidol
  • Acetylcysteine