Imaging patients with kidney disease: how do we approach contrast-related toxicity?

Am J Med Sci. 2011 Mar;341(3):215-21. doi: 10.1097/MAJ.0b013e3181f016e6.

Abstract

The approach to imaging patients with kidney disease with iodinated radiocontrast and gadolinium-based contrast has changed dramatically in recent times. The complications of these contrast agents, radiocontrast nephropathy and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis, respectively, underlie the changes in the imaging practice used in these patients. Rather than to completely avoid the use of these contrast agents, one must remain judicious in the choice of imaging modality in this group of patients. A prudent approach would be to (1) identify patients at high risk to develop contrast-related complications, (2) use noncontrast-based imaging techniques in these patients, as long as they are suitably diagnostic and safe and (3) if the risk:benefit ratio of the imaging information favors a contrast-based study, then appropriate prophylactic steps and use of contrast agents with the lowest risk of complication should be used after obtaining informed consent. This will allow one to maximize the diagnostic efficiency while also limiting the adverse effects.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Kidney Injury / chemically induced*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / complications*
  • Acute Kidney Injury / prevention & control
  • Contrast Media / administration & dosage*
  • Contrast Media / adverse effects*
  • Diagnostic Imaging / methods*
  • Diagnostic Imaging / standards
  • Gadolinium / administration & dosage*
  • Gadolinium / adverse effects*
  • Gadolinium DTPA / administration & dosage
  • Gadolinium DTPA / adverse effects
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Informed Consent
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / administration & dosage
  • Iodine Radioisotopes / adverse effects
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods
  • Meglumine / administration & dosage
  • Meglumine / adverse effects
  • Meglumine / analogs & derivatives
  • Nephrogenic Fibrosing Dermopathy / chemically induced
  • Organometallic Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Organometallic Compounds / adverse effects
  • Patient Selection
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / administration & dosage
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / adverse effects*
  • Renal Artery Obstruction / diagnosis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods

Substances

  • Contrast Media
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Iodine Radioisotopes
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • gadoteridol
  • gadobenic acid
  • Meglumine
  • gadodiamide
  • Gadolinium
  • Gadolinium DTPA
  • gadofosveset trisodium