To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Title: Radiographic Scans With Intravenous Dye Rarely Cause Clinically Significant Kidney Injury URL: http://www.pslgroup.com/dg/22259E.htm Doctor's Guide May 28, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC -- May 28, 2008 -- Radiographic procedures such as computed tomography (CT) scans that use intravenous dye rarely cause clinically significant acute kidney injury in patients with mild baseline kidney disease, according to a study appearing in the September 2008 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology. The findings revealed that these procedures are safe for the large and growing number of individuals who undergo such procedures and should reassure physicians concerned with patient risk. Steven Weisbord, MD, MSc, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Renal-Electrolyte Division, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Staff Nephrologist, Veterans Affairs (VA) Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and colleagues attempted to determine the incidence of acute kidney injury due to intravenous dye in individuals undergoing CT scans. They conducted a prospective, observational study of 421 patients within the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System who did not have end-stage renal disease and who were scheduled to undergo CT scans with intravenous dye. They assessed kidney injury by measuring the amount of creatinine found in the blood. In following patients' creatinine levels after the procedures, the researchers reported that only 0.5% of patients had a 50% or more increase in creatinine blood levels, and none had a 100% increase. Contrast-induced acute kidney injury was not uncommon in the subset of patients who were hospitalised or who had advanced kidney impairment prior to the CT scan. But kidney injury was very uncommon in outpatients with mild baseline kidney disease. Even when patients did develop contrast-induced acute kidney injury, none required dialysis, and none were hospitalised or died because of the kidney disease. "These observations have important implications for providers ordering and performing computed tomography and for future clinical trials of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing this radiographic procedure," the authors write. They noted that their findings will help physicians determine which patients are at risk for acute kidney injury and will help ensure that intravenous dye is used in the safest possible manner. SOURCE: The American Society of Nephrology --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright © 1999 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of P\S\L content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of P\S\L. P\S\L shall not be liable for any errors, omissions or delays in this content or any other content on its sites, newsletters or other publications, nor for any decisions or actions taken in reliance on such content. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This news story was printed from *Doctor's Guide to the Internet* located at http://www.docguide.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to News Story Page This site is maintained by webmaster@pslgroup.com Please contact us with any comments, problems or bugs. All contents Copyright (c) 1998 P\S\L Consulting Group Inc. All rights reserved.