Study of Intravenous Amino Acid Infusion to Prevent Contrast Dye Mediated Renal Damage

Exposure to radiographic contrast dye during coronary angiography is well known to cause either transient decreases in renal function or acute renal failure. Although the overall incidence is low, acute renal failure occurs most frequently in patients with both diabetes and chronic renal failure where the average reported incidence is upwards of 20%. The etiology of contrast-induced nephropathy is related to acute decline in renal blood flow following dye exposure resulting in ischemic injury at the level of the medulla. The development of acute renal failure following radiocontrast dye administration is significant because it contributes to morbidity and mortality in patients at risk.

The administration of amino acids, either through intravenous infusion or a protein meal, results in a substantial increase in renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR). In both healthy subjects and in those with chronic renal failure, an amino acid infusion produces a 20% rise in GFR and effective RPF.

We hypothesize that the 20% rise in effective RPF and GFR following an amino acid infusion will counteract the radiocontrast dye-induced vasoconstriction and reduce the renal toxicity of contrast medium in a group of high-risk patients.

Exposure to radiographic contrast dye during coronary angiography is well known to cause either transient decreases in renal function or acute renal failure.

Retrospective studies have confirmed that at least 60% of contrast-associated nephropathy occurs in subjects with chronic renal failure. The incidence approaches 20% in those with a baseline creatinine greater than 198.2 μmol per liter (2.25 mg/dL). Diabetes, in the absence of renal insufficiency, does not appear to confer added risk; however diabetic patients with chronic renal failure are at highest risk. It is particularly this group that develops oliguric renal failure requiring temporary or permanent renal replacement therapy. In diabetic patients with mild to moderate renal failure, the incidence of contrast-associated nephropathy has been reported to be between 9% and 40% however a greater then 50% incidence has been noted in diabetic patients with more severely impaired renal function.

It is hypothesized that the renal toxicity of contrast medium is related to local vasoconstriction. We hypothesize that the protein-stimulated rise in effective RPF and GFR might counteract this intrarenal vasoconstriction and reduce the toxicity of contrast medium in high-risk patients with diabetes. We propose that an infusion of amino acids prior to the administration of contrast dye, will increase renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate by approximately 20% and hasten excretion of the contrast agent thereby protecting high-risk patients from contrast nephropathy.

This is a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effectiveness of an amino-acid infusion in addition to usual therapy (intravenous normal saline infusion) for the prevention of renal dysfunction following angiographic dye administration during coronary angiography in a high risk group of patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

Comparison: Primary and secondary outcomes in patients receiving intravenous amino acid infusion compared to placebo group receiving intravenous normal saline.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Greater then 18 years of age
* Referral for coronary angiography
* Type 1 or type 2 diabetic requiring insulin or oral hypoglycemic agents
* Stable serum creatinine concentration (140 to 300 μmol per liter for men or 125 to 300 μmol per liter for women or a creatinine clearance not greater than 60 ml/min (as calculated by Cockcroft-Gault equation)
* Non diabetic subjects with a stable serum creatinine concentration of 160 to 300 µmol per liter for men and 140 to 300 µmol per liter for women.
* Stable renal function defined as no documented rise or fall in serum creatinine by more then 44 umol/L in the preceding 2 weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

* Refusal or inability to give consent
* Pregnant
* Non-elective coronary angiography
* Recent administration (within 21 days) of iodinated intravenous contrast dye
* Recent administration (within 21 days) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (excluding aspirin), aminoglycoside antibiotics or chemotherapeutic agents
* Severe/unstable diabetics requiring emergency room or inpatient therapy in the previous 21 days
* Compensated or decompensated hepatic failure
* Renal transplant