Effects of remote ischemic conditioning on kidney injury in at-risk patients undergoing elective coronary angiography (PREPARE study): a multicenter, randomized clinical trial

The ability of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) to prevent contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) following percutaneous coronary angiography in at-risk patients is controversial. No evidence exists regarding potential RIPC positive effects on renal function and clinical outcomes in the long-term. The PREPARE study was a randomized, prospective, multicenter, and double-blinded trial. A total of 222 patients scheduled for coronary angiography and/or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 40 mL/min/1.73 m(2), or eGFR between 40 and 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and two further risk factors were allocated to RIPC or control groups. Preventive measures were applied to all patients, including continuous intravenous saline infusion, withdrawal of nephrotoxic drugs, and limited volume of contrast medium. The primary endpoint, namely incidence of CIN, was 3.8% in the control group and 5.1% in the RIPC group (p = 0.74). The secondary endpoints, i.e., changes in serum creatinine and eGFR levels from baseline to 48 hours and from baseline to 12 months following contrast medium exposure, did not differ between both groups. The incidences of all major clinical events at 12 months were similar in both groups. In this population at risk of CIN, preventive strategies were associated with low CIN incidence. RIPC impacted neither the CIN incidence nor both the renal function and clinical outcomes at 1-year follow-up.