Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is a common cause of hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI) following the administration of contrast media for coronary interventions or procedures such as diagnostic coronary angiography. The optimal way of preventing CIN remains uncertain. However, preliminary intravenous hydration, minimizing the volume of contrast media, and avoiding the use of nephrotoxic drugs are recommended in current management guidelines. The aim of this analysis was to compare the RenalGuard® system with standard care.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and Google Scholar to identify evidence on the clinical and economic effectiveness of forced diuresis with matched hydration using the RenalGuard system for preventing CIN. Multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) was used to assess the performance of the method in hospital settings, compared with alternative options.

Several systematic reviews with meta-analyses demonstrated that forced diuresis with matched hydration using the RenalGuard system was associated with a significantly lower relative risk of CIN among high-risk patients with chronic kidney disease. However, the evidence supporting the advantage of the proposed method over current forced diuresis techniques with manual calculation of the volumes for matched hydration in the hospital setting was limited.

Although the effectiveness of the RenalGuard system has been demonstrated in meta-analyses, its clinical advantage over forced diuresis with manual hydration calculation is uncertain. It is also worth noting the lack of evidence to date on this technology, the fact that it is still at the research stage in some countries, and that it is not included in CIN management guidelines.