Objective
To examine the effect of intravenous iodinated contrast material administration on the subsequent development of acute kidney injury (AKI), emergent dialysis, and short-term mortality using a propensity score-adjusted analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) scan recipients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Patients and Methods
In this IRB approved retrospective study, all CKD patients who received a contrast-enhanced (contrast group) or unenhanced (noncontrast group) CT scan from January 2000 to August 2013 were identified. Patients were subdivided into CKD Stage III (baseline eGFR 30–59 ml/min/1.73m2), and CKD Stage IV–V (baseline eGFR<30 ml/min/1.73m2), subgroups and separately underwent propensity score generation, stratification, and 1:1 matching. Rates of AKI and 30-day emergent dialysis and mortality were compared between contrast and noncontrast groups. Sensitivity analyses examining only patients with stable prescan serum creatinine (SCr) and incorporating IV fluid administration at the time of scan into the model were also performed.
Results
A total of 6902 patients (4496 CKD Stage III, matched: 1220 contrast/1220 noncontrast; 2086 CKD Stage IV–V, matched: 491 contrast/491 noncontrast) were included in the study. Following propensity score adjustment, the rates of AKI, emergent dialysis, and mortality were not significantly higher in the contrast group compared to the noncontrast group in either CKD subset (CKD Stage III OR 0.65–1.00, P<.001–.99, CKD Stage IV–V OR 0.93–2.33, P=.22–.99). Both sensitivity analyses had similar results.
Conclusion
Intravenous contrast material administration was not associated with an increased risk of AKI, emergent dialysis, and short-term mortality in a cohort of patients with diminished renal function.