BACKGROUND Contrast media cause oxidative stress, which has been suggested as one possible mechanism responsible for contrast-induced nephropathy. Statins appear to have pleiotropic effects, including antioxidant properties. We investigated to determine whether simvastatin pretreatment reduces the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in a high-risk population of patients with renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography.

METHODS We conducted a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, 2-center trial, involving 247 consecutive patients with chronic renal insufficiency (calculated creatinine clearance < or = 60 mL/min and/or serum creatinine > or = 1.1 mg/dL) undergoing coronary angiography. Patients were randomized to simvastatin (n = 124; 160 mg total, 40 mg orally every 12 hours starting the evening before and ending the morning after the procedure) or placebo (n = 123). All patients received pre - and postprocedure hydration. The iso-osmolar contrast agent iodixanol was used for coronary angiography in all patients.

RESULTS There was no difference between simvastatin and placebo in mean peak increase in serum creatinine measured within 48 hours after coronary angiography, the primary study end point (0.002 +/- 0.164 vs 0.017 +/- 0.230 mg/mL respectively, P = .559). The incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy, a secondary end point defined as increase of either > or = 25% or > or = 0.5 mg/dL in serum creatinine, was 2.5% in simvastatin-treated patients (3/118) and 3.4% in placebo-treated patients (4/118), a nonsignificant difference (P = 1.00). There were also no differences between the 2 groups in length of hospital stay or 1- and 6-month clinical outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS Simvastatin pretreatment for short-term at high dose do not prevent renal function deterioration after administration of contrast medium in patients with baseline renal insufficiency undergoing coronary angiography.