Pharmacological Strategies for the Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Title:Pharmacological Strategies for the Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery: An Overview of Systematic Reviews

Volume: 20 Issue: 34

Author(s): Nishith N. Patel and Gianni D. Angelini

Affiliation:

Keywords: Surgery, Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Kidney, Drugs, Prevention, Meta-Analysis, Overview.

Abstract: Context: Post cardiac surgery acute kidney injury (AKI) is common, poorly understood and associated with a significant increase in morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: An overview of systematic reviews that have evaluated pharmacological agents for the prevention of AKI post cardiac surgery.

Data Sources: We searched electronic databases (PubMed and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews) from inception to January 2014.

Study Selection: Systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials that have evaluated pharmacological agents for the prevention of AKI in adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Data Analysis: Numbers needed to treat (NNT) or harm (NNH) were calculated from pooled events given in each meta-analysis. Primary outcome measures were defined as (i) mortality, (ii) need for renal replacement therapy (RRT), and (iii) acute kidney injury.

Results: Data from 7 systematic reviews evaluating 6 different pharmacological renoprotective agents were included. Dopamine, fenoldopam and N-acetylcysteine did not demonstrate any benefit in terms of mortality, need for RRT or incidence of AKI. Atrial natriuretic peptide reduced the need for RRT (NNT = 22 (95% CI: 13 to 73) and brain natriuretic peptide reduced the incidence of AKI (NNT = 11 (95% CI: 6 to 32), although both agents did not demonstrate any effect on mortality. Loop diuretics demonstrated increased incidence of AKI (NNH = 8 (95% CI: 5 to 15).

Conclusion: There is a paucity of effective renoprotective agents that can be used in adult cardiac surgical patients. There is an urgent need to develop novel renoprotective strategies.

Cite this article as:

Patel N. Nishith and Angelini D. Gianni, Pharmacological Strategies for the Prevention of Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery: An Overview of Systematic Reviews, Current Pharmaceutical Design 2014; 20 (34) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612820666140325113422