This question is discussed in an excellent post on the ED Trauma and Critical Care blog. Amit reviews these four articles:

1. Newhouse, J. H. & RoyChoudhury, A. (2013). Quantitating Contrast Medium-induced Nephropathy: Controlling the Controls. Radiology, 267(1), 4–8. doi:10.1148/radiol.13122876
2. McDonald, J. S., McDonald, R. J., Comin, J., Williamson, E. E., Katzberg, R. W., Murad, H. M., & Kalimes, D. F. (2013). Frequency of acute Kidney injury Following intravenous contrast Medium administration: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Radiology, 267(1), 119–128. doi:10.1148/radiol.12121460/-/DC1
3. McDonald, R. J., McDonald, J. S., Bida, J. P., Carter, R. E., Fleming, C. J., Misra, S., et al. (2013). intravenous contrast Material–induced nephropathy: Causal or Coincident Phenomenon? Radiology, 267, 106–118. doi:10.1148/radiol.12121823/-/DC1
4. Davenport, M. S., Khalatbari, S., Dillman, J. R., Cohan, R. H., Caoili, E. M., & Ellis, J. H. (2013). Contrast Material-induced Nephrotoxicity and Intravenous Low-Osmolality Iodinated Contrast Material. Radiology, 267(1), 94–105. doi:10.1148/radiol.12121394

His conclusion…Probably not. It is probably merely association. But click over to his post and read it all.

Update

• Best Blog Post on the Issue from PulmCrit
• Blog Post from EMDocs

• Author
• Recent Posts

Scott Weingart, MD FCCM

Editor-in-Chief, at EMCrit.org

An ED Intensivist from NY.
Professor
Chief, Division of Emergency Critical Care
Director, Resuscitation and Acute Critical Care Unit
Stony Brook Medicine
Stony Brook, NY, USA
No conflicts of interest (coi).

Latest posts by Scott Weingart, MD FCCM (see all)

• EMCrit 296 – The French Connection, Part 1 – Resuscitation Geography, Logistics, & Ergonomics - April 17, 2021
• EMCrit 295 – Resuscitation Room Readiness - April 3, 2021
• EMCrit 294 – Acute Crit Care Grand Rounds with Josh Farkas - March 17, 2021