Radiocontrast agents, nephrotoxicity

Studies on the mechanisms of radiocontrast nephrotoxicity have been performed in IPRK with conflicting results. While some studies provided modest support for the contrast -induced renal vasoconstriction theory, perhaps resulting from reduced nitric oxide or increased endothelin release, others demonstrated that different contrast agents had varying effects on the renal circulation. For example, pretreatment with BQ123 (a selective endothehn (ETA) receptor antago-... 

The agents currently used as radiocontrast media are triiodinated benzoic acid derivatives and may be ionic (e.g., sodium diatrizoate) or nonionic (e.g., iotrol, iopamidol). The mechanism of nephrotoxicity induced by radiocontrast media involves both renal hemodynamic changes and direct tubular injury, and these effects are related to the high osmolarity of the drugs (up to 1965mOsml ). 

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