REVIEW AND PRESENTATION OF A CONTROLLED R ANDOMIZED STUDY

Preexisting renal insufficiency is a major risk factor for contrast me dia-induced nephropathy. The aim of our prospective, randomized, and c ontrolled study was to investigate the influence of a single hemodialy sis treatment on the pharmacokinetics of iopentol and on the clinical course (serum creatinine). Thirty patients with renal insufficiency (s erum creatinine > 1,4 mg/dl) who underwent an arterial angiography wer e monitored. Fifteen patients were hemodialyzed (group 1) for 3 hours (single needle, blood flow 139 ml/min) after the investigation. Iopent ol concentrations in plasma and urine (measured by HPLC) and the serum creatinine were followed-up for 5 days. 33% of the contrast media wer e eliminated by hemodialysis. Serum creatinine level rose significantl y in both groups, but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups. In conclusion, our data showed a sufficient elimination of i opentol by hemodialysis. However, this treatment had no effect on clin ical outcome.