Radiocontrast media (CM) is one of the most common causes of hospital-acquired acute renal failure. The proposed mechanisms include direct nephrotoxicity and renal ischemia. Endothelin-1 has potent vasoconstrictor effects on various vessels, including the renal vasculature. Patients with preexisting renal insufficiency, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure or dehydration are at high risk...

BACKGROUND Although calcium-channel antagonists have been proposed as prophylaxis to prevent radiocontrast-induced nephropathy, the dose and dose interval to achieve a protective effect have not been quantified in humans. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind protocol we studied urinary enzyme and microprotein excretion in 121 outpatients (mean age 65.3 +/- 9.3 years, 62% male) with normal re...

BACKGROUND Aging is associated with renal structural changes and functional decline. The attributable risk for renal dysfunction from radiocontrast agents in critically ill older patients has not been well established. METHODS In this prospective study, we assessed the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in critically ill patients with stable renal function who underwent computed ...

There is growing recognition of the association between the use of gadolinium-containing radiocontrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging and the serious dermal and systemic disease nephrogenic fibrosing dermopathy/nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NFD/NSF). The pathogenesis of this entity remains unclear; however, our recent observations suggest a likely mechanism for the initial dermal manife...

Increasing numbers of patients in the developed world are exposed to contrast medium during cardiac catheterisation procedures, and the pressure to increase cardiac laboratory throughput of patients with suspected coronary disease is unrelenting. For this reason, the problem of radiocontrast induced nephropathy (RCIN) assumes greater and greater importance. How is the fallout from contrast expo...