The risk of radiocontrast nephropathy in patients with cirrhosis.

A retrospective case-control study was conducted to determine whether liver cirrhosis might be a risk factor for radiocontrast induced nephropathy as has been suggested. Data from 72 patients with cirrhosis and 72 patients without cirrhosis who all received 100-150 ml of low osmolality radiocontrast medium for abdominal or chest computerized tomography scan were reviewed. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were recorded before and 48-72 h after the administration of an intravenous radiocontrast agent. Acute renal failure developed in two patients with cirrhosis (2.8%) and one patient in the control group (1.4%). This difference was not significant. There was no significant change in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in either group after radiocontrast injection. Both of the cirrhotic patients who developed radiocontrast induced nephropathy had received high-dose diuretics and were hypovolemic. We conclude that hepatic cirrhosis per se may not be a risk factor for radiocontrast-induced nephropathy.