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

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Scott Weingart

An ED Intensivist from NY. No conflicts of interest (coi).

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