Statin therapy in renal disease: Harmful or protective?

Comorbid Heart Failure and Renal Impairment: Epidemiology and Management

Heart failure mortality is significantly increased in patients with baseline renal impairment and those with underlying heart failure who subsequently develop renal dysfunction. This accelerated progression occurs independent of the cause or grade of renal dysfunction and baseline risk factors. Recent large prospective databases have highlighted the depth of the current problem, while longitudinal population studies support an increasing disease burden. We have extensively reviewed the epidemiological and therapeutic data among these patients. The evidence points to a progression of heart failure early in renal impairment, even in the albuminuric stage. The data also support poor prescription of prognostic therapies. As renal function is the most important prognostic factor in heart failure, it is important to establish the current understanding of the disease burden and the therapeutic implications.

Mitigating contrast-induced acute kidney injury associated with cardiac catheterization

Contrast-induced nephropathy, also referred to as contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI), is among the most common causes of AKI, especially in patients with underlying chronic kidney disease. In addition to the increased cost engendered by the development of CIAKI, several studies have suggested the occurrence of AKI after cardiac procedures is associated with an increase in both morbidity and mortality. This increase in morbidity and mortality occurs after both intravenous and intra-arterial studies. This review focuses on relevant proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, risk factors, and current prophylactic strategies, which may reduce the incidence of CIAKI during cardiac angiographic imaging studies.

Comparison of usefulness of simvastatin 20 mg versus 80 mg in preventing contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention

Contrast-induced nephropathy limits the outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The present study compared the protective effects of different statin doses on renal function. A total of 228 patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing selective PCI were randomly divided into simvastatin 20-mg group (S20, n = 115) and simvastatin 80-mg group (S80, n = 113). Serum creatinine was measured at admission, the day of PCI, and 24 and 48 hours after PCI. The creatinine clearance was calculated using the Cochcroft-Gault formula. High-sensitive C-reactive protein, P-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were also measured before and after the procedure. Contrast-induced nephropathy was defined as a postprocedure increase in serum creatinine of > or =0.5 mg/dl or >25% from baseline. The serum creatinine significantly increased after PCI, with the peak value occurring at 24 hours, and then began to decrease. At 48 hours, the serum creatinine had decreased to the baseline level in the S80 group, but it had failed to do so in the S20 group. At 24 and 48 hours after PCI, the serum creatinine was lower in the S80 group than in the S20 group (p <0.05 and p <0.001, respectively). The creatinine clearance significantly decreased after PCI, with the lowest value occurring at 24 hours, and then it began to increase. In the S80 group, the creatinine clearance recovered to baseline level at 48 hours, but it failed to do so in the S20 group. The creatinine clearance was greater at 24 and 48 hours in the S80 group than that in the S20 group. Although the procedure caused a significant increase in high-sensitive C-reactive protein, P-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels, the value was lower in the S80 group than in the S20 group (p <0.001). In conclusion, pretreatment with simvastatin 80 mg before PCI could further decrease the occurrence of contrast-induced nephropathy compared with simvastatin 20 mg. This benefit was associated with the lowering of high-sensitive C-reactive protein, P-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 levels.

Contrast-induced acute kidney injury

Cardiac angiography and coronary/vascular interventions depend on iodinated contrast media and consequently pose the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI). This is an important complication that accounts for a significant number of cases of hospital-acquired renal failure, with adverse effects on prognosis and health care costs. The epidemiology and pathogenesis of contrast-induced AKI, baseline renal function measurement, risk assessment, identification of high-risk patients, contrast medium use, and preventive strategies are discussed in this report. An advanced algorithm is suggested for the risk stratification and management of contrast-induced AKI as it relates to patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures. Contrast-induced AKI is likely to remain a significant challenge for cardiologists in the future because the patient population is aging and chronic kidney disease and diabetes are becoming more common.