Contrast induced nephropathy: Pathophysiology and prevention

The steadily increasing use of contrast media in radiological and interventional cardiac procedures has led to more research and well designed studies of prophylactic strategies for its leading life threatening side effect of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). CIN adversely affects the prognosis after interventional procedure and poses substantial extra burden on health care costs. The importance of understanding of CIN lies in the fact that no available treatment can reverse or ameliorate it once it develops, but prevention is possible. Herein, we discuss the detailed pathophysiological aspects, risk factors, proposed risk prediction algorithms and various prophylactic strategies for contrast induced nephropathy