Haemodialysis for the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy: Outcome of 31 patients with severely impaired renal function, comparison with patients at similar risk and review

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES. To investigate whether haemodialysis prevents contrast-induced nephropathy (definition: increase of serum-creatinine of ≥ 0.5 mg/dL within 7 days). MATERIALS AND METHODS. Thirty-one patients (mean serum-creatinine 4.01 ± 1.83 mg/dL) were dialyzed for 4.36 ± 1.0 hours within one hour after 278.4 ± 160.5 mL of contrast medium. RESULTS. Dialysis resulted in a significant reduction of serum-creatinine (2.25 ± 1.46 mg/dL; P < 0.0001) and stable mean serum-creatinine levels 2, 3, 4, and 7 days after contrast medium and at discharge compared with baseline values. However, 19 patients (61%) developed contrast-induced nephropathy within 7 days. Four patients had to be repeatedly dialyzed. A comparison of our patients' 48 hours-incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (9/31; 29%) versus patients at comparable risk included in seven previous studies demonstrated a prophylactic effect of dialysis only versus a subgroup in one study. CONCLUSIONS. Data provide no hint that haemodialysis prevents contrast-induced nephropathy. Therefore, postprocedural dialysis should be restricted to patients participating in clinical studies.