A protocol for prevention of radiographic contrast nephropathy during percutaneous coronary intervention: Effect of selective dopamine receptor agonist fenoldopam

Radiographic contrast nephropathy (RCN), acute worsening of renal function due to contrast agents, can occur in 15%-40% of patients with baseline renal dysfunction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and is associated with increased morbidity and in-hospital mortality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the selective dopamine-1 (DA-1) receptor agonist fenoldopam would be beneficial in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) undergoing PCI and also to design a protocol for prevention of RCN. We analyzed 150 consecutive patients with CRI [baseline serum creatinine (BSCr) ≥ 1.5% mg] who underwent PCI and received fenoldopam during and after the procedure, in addition to saline hydration. RCN, defined as > 25% increase of BSCr 48-72 hr after PCI, occurred in 4.7% (n = 7) of 150 PCI patients receiving fenoldopam and 3.5% in diabetics (n = 85) vs. 6.1% in nondiabetics (n = 65; P = NS). No patients required dialysis. The observed 4.7% incidence of RCN with fenoldopam was significantly lower than 18.8% incidence in the historical control group (P < 0.001). Our data suggest that fenoldopam is a useful adjunct in the prevention of RCN during PCI, especially in diabetics.