Prophylactic hydration to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy: much ado about nothing?

Clinical guidelines recommend prophylactic hydration to reduce the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in high-risk patients, including those with chronic kidney disease. A recent single-center randomized trial showed no significant difference in the incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy in ambulatory patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease who were randomized to no prophylactic hydration versus normal saline hydration. While these results may identify patients who are less likely to benefit from prophylactic hydration, nephrologists and interventionalists should carefully consider the generalizability of these results to individual patients.