Creatinine test reduces contrast-based nephropathy

Many elderly patients scheduled for contrast-enhanced CT scans who have no reported risk factors may still be at risk of contrast-induced nephropathy. While measuring the creatinine levels is standard, it may be better to assess creatinine clearance as well, according to researchers at the VA North Texas Health Care System.

Dr. Mithilesh Kumar and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the charts of 561 consecutive patients during a six-month period. Thirteen percent had a creatinine clearance of less than 50 mL/min, and 25% had clearance less than 60 mL/min. Of these patients, nearly 19% and 22%, respectively, reported no risk factors.

"With these data, we can show referring physicians that it is not an insignificant number of patients who could be put at risk," coauthor Dr. Andre Duerinckx said at the RSNA meeting.

Duerinckx is now the director of MR, CT, and vascular imaging at Forsyth Radiological Associates in Winston-Salem, NC.

Copyright © 2005 CMP Media LLC. All rights reserved.

2/1/05, Issue # 2702, page 18.