Is there a protective effect with remote ischemic preconditioning on contrast-induced acute renal injury after coronary angiography in low-risk patients?

Abstract

Introduction: Contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIN-AKI) is a serious complication of coronary angiography. Given the weaknesses in the common protective methods used to prevent CIN-AKI, a safe and effective strategy is needed. RIPC has been shown to have a nephroprotective effect.  Objectives: We aimed to determine the protective effect of RIPC on CIN-AKI after angiography or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in low-risk patients.  Patients and Methods: In our study, 140 low-risk patients who needed angiography or PCI, were assigned to either RIPC or control group. In each group, serum creatinine and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) were measured before the procedure. Serum creatinine was measured daily for 2 days and uNGAL was measured 6 and 24 hours after the procedure. Diagnosis of AKI was, according to the Kidney Disease; Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria (2012).  Results: The mean age in the remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) group was 56.8 ± 11.4 years and 56.3 ± 11.8 years in the control group. We observed no significant difference regarding patient’s characteristic and renal biomarkers at baseline. There was no significant difference in the incidence of AKI (P = 0.116). The uNGAL increased by 36.2% 6-hour after the procedure in patients with AKI, while at the same time, this biomarker increased only by 4.3% in patients without AKI.  Conclusion: We concluded that RIPC, with 3 cycles of 5-minute ischemia and 5-minute reperfusion, did not decrease CIN-AKI or altering renal biomarkers course in low-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography or PCI. Additionally, uNGAL, seems to be an appropriate biomarker for early diagnosis of CIN-AKI, 6 hours after contrast media exposure.  Trial Registration: This randomized clinical trial was registered in the Iranian registry of clinical trials (identifier: IRCT201808200408338N1; https://www.irct.ir/trial/33756, ethical code; HUMS. REC.1396.43).