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Contrast nephropathy: are short-term outcome measures adequate for quantification of long-term renal risk?

Abstract

This Practice Point commentary discusses the findings of a prospective observational study by Weisbord et al. that attempted to quantify the incidence and outcomes of contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease (CKD). These data are set in the context of recent observations linking acute kidney injury with the progression of CKD to end-stage renal disease. The commentary also asks whether standard short-term clinical outcome measures—i.e. changes in serum creatinine—are adequate to assess the risk of disease progression in patients with mild-to-moderate CKD.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Figure 1

Graph showing changes in serum creatinine level over time in a patient with progressive chronic kidney disease. The spikes indicate independent episodes of acute injury caused by specific clinical events, and are superimposed onto a gradual rise in serum creatinine that reflects the progression of chronic disease. This pattern is typical of patients with chronic kidney disease. (PPT 145 kb)

Supplementary Figure 2

Schematic representation of a proposed vicious cycle of mutual reinforcement between acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, leading to end-stage renal disease. Chronic kidney disease increases the risk of acute kidney injury, and acute kidney injury in turn accelerates progression of chronic kidney disease. (PPT 29 kb)

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Molitoris, B. Contrast nephropathy: are short-term outcome measures adequate for quantification of long-term renal risk?. Nat Rev Nephrol 4, 594–595 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncpneph0931

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