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Fulvio Stacul

Publications and source records attributed to Fulvio Stacul.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

A meta-analysis of the renal safety of isosmolar iodixanol compared with low-osmolar contrast media.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to compare the nephrotoxicity of isosmolar contrast medium (IOCM) iodixanol with low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) and to identify predictors of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). BACKGROUND: Contrast-induced nephropathy is a serious complication of diagnostic and interventional procedures. METHODS: Pooled individual patient data (n = 2,727) from 16 double-blind, randomized, controlled trials in which patients received either intra-arterial IOCM iodixanol (n = 1,382) or LOCM (n = 1,345) were included. Patients were stratified according to chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus (DM), or both. Outcome measures were the maximum increase in serum creatinine (Cr) over baseline and the incidence of postprocedural CIN. RESULTS: The maximum Cr increase within 3 days after contrast medium (CM) administration was significantly smaller in the iodixanol group compared with the LOCM group (0.06 mg/dl vs. 0.10 mg/dl, p < 0.001), particularly in patients with CKD (0.07 mg/dl vs. 0.16 mg/dl, p = 0.004) and CKD + DM (0.10 mg/dl vs. 0.33 mg/dl, p = 0.003). Contrast-induced nephropathy, defined as an increase in Cr > or =0.50 mg/dl within 3 days after CM administration, occurred less frequently in the iodixanol group than in the LOCM group in all patients (1.4% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001), in CKD patients (2.8% vs. 8.4%, p = 0.001), and in CKD + DM patients (3.5% vs. 15.5%, p = 0.003). Independent predictors of CIN included CKD, CKD + DM, and use of LOCM. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis of pooled data from 2,727 patients indicates that use of the IOCM iodixanol is associated with smaller rises in Cr and lower rates of CIN than LOCM, especially in patients with CKD or CKD + DM.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed2006

Strategies to reduce the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy.

In view of the clinical importance of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), numerous potential risk-reduction strategies have been evaluated. Adequate intravenous volume expansion with isotonic crystalloid (1.0-1.5 mL/kg per hr) for 3-12 hours before the procedure and continued for 6-24 hours afterward can lessen the probability of CIN in patients at risk. There are insufficient data on oral fluids (as opposed to intravenous volume expansion) as a CIN-prevention strategy. No adjunctive medical or mechanical treatment has been proved to be efficacious in reducing risk for CIN. Prophylactic hemodialysis and hemofiltration have not been validated as effective strategies. The CIN Consensus Working Panel considered that, of the pharmacologic agents that have been evaluated, theophylline, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins), ascorbic acid, and prostaglandin E(1) deserve further evaluation. N-acetylcysteine is not consistently effective in reducing the risk for CIN. Fenoldopam, dopamine, calcium channel blockers, atrial natriuretic peptide, and l-arginine have not been shown to be effective. Use of furosemide, mannitol, or an endothelin receptor antagonist is potentially detrimental. Nephrotoxic drugs should be withdrawn before contrast administration in patients at risk for CIN.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2006

Contrast medium use.

Various properties of iodinated contrast media (osmolality, ionic versus nonionic, and viscosity) may contribute to contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). Therefore, the choice of contrast medium affects the risk for CIN. There is good evidence that low-osmolar contrast media are less nephrotoxic than high-osmolar contrast media in patients at increased risk for CIN who receive intra-arterial iodinated contrast. Current evidence suggests that nonionic isosmolar contrast presents the lowest risk for CIN in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in those patients with diabetes mellitus. Intra-arterial administration of contrast media may be associated with a greater risk for CIN above that observed with intravenous administration. The use of gadolinium or CO(2) as alternative contrast media to avoid the risk of nephrotoxicity cannot be substantiated by clinical trials and therefore cannot be recommended. Most studies show that, within a class, higher volumes (>100 mL) of iodinated contrast medium are associated with a higher risk for CIN. However, in patients at high risk, such as those with CKD and diabetes, even small volumes of contrast medium can have adverse effects on renal function.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2006

Risk prediction of contrast-induced nephropathy.

In order to make appropriate decisions about clinical management, it is important for physicians to be able to stratify patients according to their risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). The most important risk marker for nephropathy after exposure to iodinated contrast media is preexisting renal impairment. The risk of CIN is elevated and becomes clinically important in patients with chronic kidney disease characterized by an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m(2). In patients with renal impairment, diabetes mellitus amplifies the risk of CIN and complicates postprocedure management. Other markers associated with an increased risk of CIN include cardiovascular disease, periprocedural hemodynamic instability, use of nephrotoxic drugs, and anemia. The effect of risk factors is additive, and the presence of multiple risk factors in the same patient can create a very high risk for CIN and acute renal failure requiring dialysis. Risk models incorporating baseline and periprocedural characteristics have been developed using data from large databases of percutaneous coronary intervention patients. These schemes are potentially valuable, but at present the most practical approach to risk prediction is based on a simple model incorporating renal function and diabetes mellitus.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2006

Baseline renal function screening.

Renal impairment at baseline (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) is the most important risk marker to predict the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients receiving iodinated contrast media. Hence, it is important to assess renal function before administration of contrast medium to ensure that appropriate steps are taken to reduce the risk. Serum creatinine alone does not provide a reliable measure of renal function, hence the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) recommends that clinicians should use an eGFR calculated from the serum creatinine as an index of renal function. The CIN Consensus Working Panel agreed that eGFR should be determined before contrast administration, using the abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula, recommended by K/DOQI as the preferred equation for the calculation of eGFR in adults. Where a serum creatinine measurement or eGFR is not available, a simple survey or questionnaire can be used before contrast agent administration to identify patients at higher risk for CIN compared with the general population. In emergency situations, where the benefit of very early imaging outweighs the risk of waiting, the CIN Consensus Working Panel agreed that the procedure can be performed without assessment of renal function.

Consensus Statements as Topic↗
PubMed2006

High-risk situations and procedures.

With the wider use of imaging and interventional techniques that require the use of iodinated contrast media in seriously ill patients, many clinical situations occur where patients may be at increased risk for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN). There is little guidance for clinicians in these areas. The aim of this review is to assess the available literature. Acute renal failure is a common complication following coronary artery bypass surgery, and exposure to contrast medium may increase the risk for this condition, although there is insufficient evidence to make a definitive statement. Evidence is also limited for patients with liver disease: in those undergoing transarterial chemoembolization, cirrhosis may be a risk factor for renal failure. There is some evidence that periprocedural hypotension may be a risk factor for CIN after percutaneous coronary intervention, but no published information was identified on the significance of shock or hypotension in other groups of patients. The published evidence on the risk of CIN in renal transplant recipients is inconsistent. In emergency situations, the course of action is usually dictated by clinical circumstances; the renal status of a patient is likely to be unknown and it is important to ensure adequate volume expansion, especially after the procedure. In all clinical situations that are potentially associated with a high risk for CIN, the decision to administer contrast medium is a matter for clinical judgment, based on the clinical status of the patient and the expected benefits of the investigation or procedure.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2006

Pathophysiology of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is the third leading cause of acute kidney injury in hospitalized patients and is associated with significant patient morbidity. The pathogenesis of CIN is complex and not fully understood, but iodinated contrast agents induce intense and prolonged vasoconstriction at the corticomedullary junction of the kidney. Moreover, high-osmolar dyes directly impair the autoregulatory capacity of the kidney through a loss of nitric oxide production. These effects, coupled with direct tubular toxicity of contrast media, lead to overt acute tubular necrosis and the syndrome of CIN.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2006

Epidemiology and prognostic implications of contrast-induced nephropathy.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN), usually defined as an increase in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL (44.2 mumol/L), or a 25% increase from the baseline value 48 hours after the procedure, is a common and potentially serious complication of the use of iodinated contrast media in patients at risk of acute renal injury. It is an important cause of hospital-acquired renal failure, responsible for approximately 11% of cases. CIN may be difficult to distinguish from cholesterol embolization, another cause of postprocedure renal impairment. The reported incidence of CIN varies depending on the patient population studied. The impact of postprocedural renal impairment on clinical outcomes has been evaluated most extensively in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. CIN is associated with increased mortality both in hospital and at 1 year. A higher incidence of in-hospital and late cardiovascular events, as well as longer hospital stays, has been reported in patients developing CIN. In a small proportion of patients, CIN is severe enough to require dialysis, and these patients have a particularly poor prognosis. Many of the risk markers for CIN are also predictive of a worse prognosis.

Acute Kidney Injury↗
PubMed2006

Effects of iodinated contrast media on blood and endothelium.

The aim of the study was to assess the effects of iodinated contrast media on blood components and endothelium based on experimental and clinical studies and to produce clinically relevant guidelines for reducing thrombotic and hematologic complications following the intravascular use of contrast media. A report was drafted after review of the literature and discussions among the members of the Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology. The final report was produced following discussion at the 12th European Symposium on Urogenital Radiology in Ljubljana, Slovenia (2005). Experimental data indicate that all iodinated contrast media produce an anticoagulant effect and that this effect is greater with ionic contrast media. Several of the in vitro and experimental in vivo studies on haematological effects of contrast media have not been confirmed by clinical studies. Low- or iso-osmolar contrast media should be used for diagnostic and interventional angiographic procedures, including phlebography. Meticulous angiographic technique is the most important factor for reducing the thrombotic complications associated with angiographic procedures. Drugs and interventional devices that decrease the risk of thromboembolic complications during interventional procedures minimize the importance of the effects of contrast media.

Angiography↗
PubMed2006

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN) Consensus Working Panel: executive summary.

With the advances made in radiology and cardiology, greater numbers of patients are expected to undergo exposure to iodinated contrast media in the years to come. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) accounts for a significant number of cases of hospital-acquired renal failure, with adverse effects on prognosis and healthcare costs. The CIN Consensus Working Panel is an international multidisciplinary group convened to address the challenges of CIN. The group reviewed 865 published papers, chosen for potential relevance from a comprehensive literature search that identified over 4000 references. The results were used to compile reviews covering the epidemiology and pathogenesis of CIN, baseline renal function measurement, risk assessment, identification of high-risk patients, contrast medium use, and preventive strategies. In this executive summary, consensus statements and an algorithm for the risk stratification and management of CIN are presented.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed2005

Reducing the risks for contrast-induced nephropathy.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of the most serious adverse events associated with the use of contrast media (CM). Patients who develop this complication can have increased morbidity, higher rates of mortality, lengthy hospital stays, and poor long-term outcomes. Although CIN cannot be eliminated, the chances of developing this condition can be reduced by using appropriate prevention strategies. An important first step to reduce the chance of CIN is to identify risk factors associated with this condition. Patients with a previously elevated serum creatinine level, especially when secondary to diabetic nephropathy, are at great risk for developing CIN. Other patient-related risk factors include concurrent use of nephrotoxic medications, dehydration, congestive heart failure, age greater than 70 years, and probably the presence of diabetes mellitus even if serum creatinine is normal. Adequate hydration is widely accepted as an important prophylactic measure for preventing CIN, but the optimal hydration regimen is still debatable. The risk of CIN increases with greater doses of CM, as well as with the type of CM used. A high-osmolar CM poses a greater risk of CIN than does a low-osmolar CM and, as recent but limited data suggest, the use of an isoosmolar CM is less nephrotoxic than a low-osmolar CM in patients with renal impairment following intra-arterial procedures, although this finding needs to be verified in future clinical studies. Pharmacologic agents such as calcium channel blockers, dopamine, atrial natriuretic peptide, fenoldopam, prostaglandin El, and endothelin receptor antagonist have not been proven effective against CIN development. Controversies still exist on the possible effectiveness of theophylline and N-acetylcysteine. Simple strategies for the prevention of CIN in at-risk patients are reviewed and unproven interventions are discussed.

Contrast Media↗
PubMed2003

[MR cholangiopancreatography: comparison of 2D single-shot fast spin-echo and 3D fast spin-echo sequences].

PURPOSE: To compare 2D single-shot Fast Spin-Echo (FSE) and two 3D FSE MR cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) sequences with different slice thickness in the evaluation of normal and abnormal biliary and pancreatic duct systems. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients, both with normal biliary and pancreatic ducts (n=14) and with different biliary and/or pancreatic duct disease (n=18) underwent MRCP with a 1.5 T superconductive magnet. One 2D single-shot FSE and two 3D FSE MRCP sequences with different slice thickness (1.6 mm and 3 mm) were performed in each patient. Images were analysed with regards to: artefacts (0=none, 1=minimal, 2=present but not affecting the diagnostic evaluation, 3=present and affecting the diagnostic evaluation), image quality (0=non-diagnostic, 1=poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=excellent), duct conspicuity (0=not-visible, 1=poor, 2=good, 3=excellent), diagnostic confidence (possible presence of dilatations, stones and stenoses). RESULTS: Artefacts were rarely present, without significant differences among the three sequences. The 2D single-shot FSE sequence provided a significantly better image quality and significantly better conspicuity of the intrahepatic and pancreatic ducts in comparison to both the 1.6-mm and 3-mm thickness 3D FSE sequences. The three sequences yielded identical results in the detection of 17 cases of dilatation and 10 cases of stenosis as well as in the evaluation of their degree. Stones in the biliary tree were detected in 6 cases with the 2D single-shot FSE sequence, in 5 cases in the MIP images of the 3D FSE sequence with slice thickness of 1.6 mm and in 4 cases in the MIP images of the 3D FSE sequence with slice thickness of 3 mm. The diagnostic confidence did not show statistically significant differences among the three sequences. CONCLUSIONS: The 2D single-shot FSE sequence proved to be superior to the 3D FSE sequences in the evaluation of normal and abnormal biliary and pancreatic duct systems.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Late adverse reactions to intravascular iodinated contrast media.

Late adverse reactions to intravascular iodinated contrast media are defined as reactions occurring 1 h to 1 week after contrast medium injection. They have received increasing interest over the past decade, but their prevalence remains uncertain and their pathophysiology is not fully understood. The Contrast Media Safety Committee of the European Society of Urogenital Radiology decided to review the literature and to issue guidelines. An extensive literature search was carried out and summarized in a report. Based on the available information, simple guidelines have been drawn up. The report and guidelines were discussed at the 8th European Symposium on Urogenital Radiology in Genoa. Late adverse reactions after intravascular iodinated contrast medium include symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache, itching, skin rash, musculoskeletal pain, and fever. A significant proportion of these reactions is unrelated to the contrast medium; however, allergy-like skin reactions are well-documented side effects of contrast media with an incidence of approximately 2%. Late reactions appear to be commoner after non-ionic dimers. The majority of late skin reactions after contrast medium exposure are probably T-cell-mediated allergic reactions. Patients at increased risk of late skin reactions are those with a history of previous contrast medium reaction and those on interleukin-2 treatment. Most skin reactions are self-limiting and resolve within a week. Management is symptomatic and similar to the management of other drug-induced skin reactions.

Contrast Media↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of diagnostic performance of unenhanced vs SonoVue - enhanced ultrasonography in focal liver lesions characterization. The experience of three Italian centers.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of contrast-enhanced US with SonoVue (Bracco, Milan, Italy) compared to baseline US in focal hepatic lesions characterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive number of four operators from 3 hospitals evaluated 57 consecutive patients with 60 focal hepatic lesions (28 hepatocellular carcinomas, 11 metastases, 13 hemangiomas, 1 hepatocellular adenoma and 7 focal nodular hyperplasias) by baseline gray-scale ultrasound (US) and color Doppler US. The same lesions were subsequently scanned by contrast-enhanced US after intravenous bolus administration of 2,4-4,8 ml of SonoVue by employing intermittent high or continuous low transmit power imaging. The diagnosis of lesions nature (benign or malignant) and histotype proposed by the on-site operator was finally compared to the definite diagnosis reached by reference procedures (multiphasic contrast-material enhanced helical-computed tomography or magnetic resonance in 24 lesions and fine needle US guided biopsy in 36 lesions). Diagnostic performance (sensitivity, specificity and overall accuracy expressed by the agreement with the reference procedures) of baseline and contrast enhanced US were compared. RESULTS: Differences in sensitivity (baseline vs contrast-enhanced US: 13/39 [33%] vs 32/39 [82%]), specificity (baseline vs contrast-enhanced US: 12/21 [57%] vs 16/21 [76%]) and overall accuracy (baseline vs contrast-enhanced US: 25/60 [41%] vs 47/60 [78%]) were significant (p<0.05; McNemar test). CONCLUSIONS: SonoVue-enhanced US determined a significant improvement in diagnostic performance in the characterization of focal liver lesions if compared to baseline US.

Adenoma, Liver Cell↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Contribution of magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography to the diagnosis of biliary tract disease].

The aim of the study was to assess the role of magnetic resonance cholangiopan-creatography (MRCP) in the diagnosis of biliary tract and pancreatic duct diseases, also in relation to the data reported in the literature. Over the period from Februrary 2002 to July 2004, 252 consecutive patients, with a clinical or instrumental suspicion of biliary disease were submitted to magnetic resonance to investigate the biliary tract. The definitive diagnosis of disease was obtained by surgery and/or endoscopic retrtograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in patients with clinical or diagnostic evidence of disease and by means of follow-up in the remaining cases. MRCP, combined with T2-weighted FSE sequence on the axial plane yielded positive findings in 191/252 patients (75.79%); in 75/191 (39.26%) either ERCP was indispensable (n = 33) or surgery proved necessary (n = 42). MRCP and surgical sample findings proved discordant in 3/42 cases operated on (7.14%); MRCP and ERCP yielded discordant findings in 11/33 cases (33.33%) submitted to ERCP. With the exception of the limitations associated with the difficulty in obtaining dynamic information relating to functional diseases of Oddi's sphincter, for which, moreover, a progressive tecnological updating is underway, MRCP is the diagnostic reference procedure in biliopancreatic disease, reserving a therapeutic role for ERCP.

Adolescent↗