Effect of aminophylline on renal function of brain injury patients with acute renal failure admitted to the intensive care unit

Introdution: Acute renal failure is a common complication in the brain injury patients. Released adenosine in injury can reduce renal glomerular filtration. Aminophylline is an inhibitor of releasing adenosine. So, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of intravenous aminophylline in renal function of brain-injured patients with acute renal failure admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, 50 brain-injured patients with acute renal failure in the intensive care unit were divided randomly into two intervention and placebo groups. They were randomly received 0.2 mg/kg/h intravenous aminophylline or 0.2 mg/kg/h placebo (normal saline). Urine output and serum BUN and Cr were measured at 24 hours before and after the administration of aminophylline or placebo. Data were analyzed through SPSS version 22 software and using Chi-square test, independent t-test, Mann-Whitney as well as Wilcoxon tests. Results: There was a significant difference between urine output and serum BUN and Cr at 24 hours after the study in both groups (P< 0.001). In the intervention group, there was a significant difference between urine output and serum BUN and Cr before and after the intervention (P< 0.001) and in the control group, there was no significant difference between the mean of urine output and Cr (p=0/06) and serum BUN (p=0/08) before and after the study. Conclusion: Aminophylline can increase urine output and decrease serum BUN and Cr and improve renal function in the brain-injured patients with acute renal failure.