Intravenous albumin for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with liver cirrhosis and chronic kidney disease undergoing contrast-enhanced CT

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), and the effect of intravenous albumin for prophylaxis of CIN in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of 81 subjects with LC and CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)<60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT). Patients received either isotonic sodium bicarbonate solution (3 mL/kg for 1 h before CT and 1 mL/kg/h for 6 h after CT) or albumin (20% albumin, 25 mL for 1 h before CT and 75 mL for 6 h after CT). CIN was defined as an increase of ≥25% or ≥0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine level. RESULTS Overall, CIN developed in three patients (3.7%). Of the 81 subjects, 43 received sodium bicarbonate solution and 38 received albumin. Both groups were comparable with regard to age, sex, diabetes mellitus, and baseline eGFR. The albumin group showed a significantly poorer liver function profile. CIN incidence did not differ significantly between the groups: it occurred in one (2.3%) of the 43 subjects receiving sodium bicarbonate and two (5.3%) of the 38 subjects receiving albumin (P=0.6). However, the albumin group showed a significantly smaller increase in body weight (P=0.03). CONCLUSION The incidence of CIN in patients with LC and CKD undergoing contrast-enhanced CT after preventive measures was relatively low. The incidence of CIN was not significantly different between sodium bicarbonate and albumin groups.