Reduced incidence of radiocontrast-induced nephropathy in ICU patients under theophylline prophylaxis: a prospective comparison to series of patients at similar risk

• Published in: Intensive care medicine 2001-07, Vol.27 (7), p.1200-1209
• Main Authors: HUBER, Wolfgang, JESCHKE, Barbara, PAGE, Michael, WEISS, Wolfgand, SALMHOFER, Hermann, SCHWEIGART, Ursula, ILGMANN, Kathrin, REICHENBERGER, Jörg, NEU, Bruno, CLASSEN, Meinhard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adenosine; Adenosine - antagonists & inhibitors; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Contrast agents; Contrast Media - adverse effects; Creatinine; diabetes mellitus; Disease prevention; Female; Germany - epidemiology; Health care policy; Hospitals; Humans; Hydration; Incidence; Intensive care; Intensive Care Units; intervention; Kidney Diseases - chemically induced; Kidney Diseases - prevention & control; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Mortality; Nitrogen; Patients; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Prospective Studies; renal function; Risk Factors; Theophylline - therapeutic use; Time Factors; urea; Urine
• ISSN: 0342-4642; 1432-1238
• DOI: 10.1007/s001340101003

To investigate whether the adenosine-antagonist theophylline reduces the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Prospective, comparison to series of patients at similar risk of CIN in a university hospital medical ICU. 78 ICU patients with at least one risk factor for CIN undergoing 150 consecutive contrast examinations. Administration of 200 mg theophylline/70 kg BW intravenously 30 min before that of 100 ml or more low-osmolarity contrast medium (CM). Concentrations of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN), urine volume, fluid balance, and the incidence of CIN [increase in creatinine > or =20.5 mg/dl (= 44.2 micromol/l) within 48 h] were monitored for 48 h. Despite the large number of risk factors (6.8 per patient) including a high dose of CM (169.4 ml), impaired renal function (51%), diabetes (38%), aminoglycosides (61%), vancomycin (53%), catecholamines (52%), creatinine concentrations were not increased 24 h (1.40+/-0.92 mg/dl) or 48 h (1.38+/-0.88 mg/dl) after CM [1.47+/-1.0 mg/dl (= 130+/-88 micromol/l)] vs. baseline. The fluid balance was not different before (+3 ml/h) and after CM (-9 ml/h). The urine volume slightly increased after CM and theophylline (184 ml/h vs. 164 ml/h). Only three patients (2%) developed CIN. The incidence was significantly lower than that of 14% (78/565) in the control series with patients at comparable risk of CIN (p < 0.0001). Using a theophylline prophylaxis the incidence of CIN in patients with increased risk of CIN is as low as 2%.