Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and Cardiovascular Imaging: Danger or Distraction?

The historically perceived risk of CI-AKI from intravenous contrast medium administration has been substantially revised downward through recent, intensive study.1 This has meaningful implications for the care of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Similar effort should be placed on clarifying what fraction of CA-AKI after coronary angiography is attributable to CI-AKI and what fraction is attributable to other, coincident, nephrotoxic exposures. Such clarification is needed because it will inform preventive methods and contrast medium–related dose guidelines, as well as improve the care of patients with chronic kidney disease who have a need for coronary imaging or intervention. © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.