Comparison of the Renoprotective Effect of Dexmedetomidine and Dopamine in High-risk Renal Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Double-blind Randomized Study

OBJECTIVE The purpose of the current study was to compare the renoprotective effects of continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine and dopamine in high-risk renal patients undergoing cardiac surgery. DESIGN A double-blind randomized study. SETTING Cardiac Centers. PATIENTS One hundred and fifty patients with baseline serum creatinine level ≥1.4 mg/dl were scheduled for cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. INTERVENTION The patients were classified into two groups (each = 75): Group Dex - the patients received a continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine 0.4 μg/kg/h without loading dose during the procedure and the first 24 postoperative hours and Group Dopa - the patients received a continuous infusion of dopamine 3 μg/kg/min during the procedure and the first 24 postoperative hours. MEASUREMENTS The monitors included serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, blood urea nitrogen, and urine output. MAIN RESULTS The creatinine levels and blood urea nitrogen decreased at days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Dex group and increased in patients of Dopa group (P < 0.05). The creatinine clearance increased at days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 in Dex group and decreased in patients of Dopa group (P < 0.05). The amount of urine output was too much higher in the Dex group than the Dopa group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The continuous infusion of dexmedetomidine during cardiac surgery has a renoprotective effect and decreased the deterioration in the renal function in high-risk renal patients compared to the continuous infusion of dopamine.