Reduced glutathione does not further reduce contrast-induced nephropathy in elderly patients with diabetes receiving percutaneous coronary intervention

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effect of hydration combined with reduced glutathione on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) after coronary intervention therapy in elderly Chinese patients with diabetes. METHODS: Patients with diabetes aged ≥65 years, who received percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) between 1 August 2016 and 31 December 2018, were enrolled and randomized into two groups: patients treated with hydration combined with reduced glutathione (treatment group) and patients who received hydration alone (controls). Serum creatinine and creatinine clearance levels were measured in all patients before PCI and then daily for 3 days after PCI. Occurrence of CIN (the primary endpoint) was defined as serum creatinine value 25% or 44.2 mmol/l (0.5 mg/dl) above baseline at 72 h after an exposure to contrast medium. RESULTS: A total of 396 patients were included (treatment group, n = 204; and controls, n = 192). The CIN occurrence rate in the treatment and control group was 5.88% and 6.77%, respectively, with no statistically significant between-group difference. CONCLUSION: In elderly patients with diabetes receiving PCI, the risk of CIN was not effectively lowered by hydration combined with reduced glutathione.