Clinical question: Does the pharmacologic renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAAS) system blockade increase the risk for contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) after cardiac catheterization?
Background: Prior prospective studies have demonstrated conflicting results regarding the deleterious versus protective effects of RAAS blockade prior to cardiac catheterization.
Study design: Retrospective, propensity-score-matched cohort study.
Setting: Single-center teaching hospital in South Korea.
Synopsis: Researchers identified patients who had cardiac catheterization and applied propensity-score matching to generate cohorts of periprocedural angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) users versus non-users. CI-AKI occurred more frequently in patients treated with ACEIs/ARBs compared to those who were not (11.4% vs. 6.3%, respectively; P<0.001).
This study was limited by its observational design. Although the propensity-score matching improves the internal validity, it is possible that unaccounted confounders were present. This trial might stimulate interest in re-examining this issue in larger prospective trials, but it should not alter current practice.
Bottom line: RAAS blockade during cardiac catheterization is associated with increased risk for CI-AKI, but further randomized trials are needed to confirm this conclusion.
Citation: Rim MY, Ro H, Kang WC, et al. The effect of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade on contrast-induced acute kidney injury: a propensity-matched study. Am J Kidney Dis. 2012;60:576-582.
