Coloured doppler US evaluation of intravascular contrast media induced nephropathy and comparation with laboratory findings

Contrast induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important clinical complication secondary to intravascular usage of iodinated contrast media, which may prolong hospitalization and may cause an increased mortality rate in long term. We aimed to detect if there is a difference in two renal artery Doppler parameters in patients who were given iodinated contrast media. In this trial; spectral parameters of renal arteries of 92 patients, who were given intravascular contrast media were prospectively evaluated with CDUS between April 2006 and July 2007. According to the previous data about CIN, all patients were examined before, within 1-3 hours and at 4th day of contrast media injection. Both renal arteries were evaluated and certain Doppler parameters such as Peak Systolic Velocity, End Diastolic Velocity, Resistive Index, Pulsatility Index, Acceleration Time ve Acceleration Index were measured from arcuate and interlobar artery levels. Within the same intervals, blood and urine samples were collected for biochemical analysis (serum creatinine, cystatin C and -2 microglobulin; urinary microalbumin). In conclusion; RI and PI increase is seen on spectral Doppler examination after intravascular iodinated contrast media administration in all cases, although there is no clinical reflection in most instances. These findings support that both renal perfusion disorder and vasoconstriction take place among the basic pathophysiological mechanisms of CIN. The discordance between the Doppler examination results, which are obtained from both renal artery may be due to a few number of CIN cases among the patient population. The results of this study should be verified in larger patient groups.