A randomized trial of prophylactic acetylcysteine and theophylline compared with placebo for the prevention of renal tubular vacuolization in rats after lohexol administration

Rationale and Objectives.. Renal tubular vacuolization (RTV), which has been shown to occur after the use of iodinated contrast material, may be one of the earliest signs of contrast medium-induced renal injury. In this study, the authors tested a method for preventing RTV with the administration of acetylcysteine, theophylline, or both, prior to contrast medium administration. Materials and Methods. Eighty rats were randomly selected for inclusion in the study. The treatment group consisted of three subgroups, each of which received prophylactic acetylcysteine, theophylline, or both before injection of iohexol. The control group comprised five subgroups, each of which received acetylcysteine, theophylline, both, normal saline injection, or orally administered normal saline prior to iohexol injection. Results. The occurrence of RTV in the treatment groups was compared with that in the control subgroup that received normal saline and iohexol. All of the rats in that control subgroup (n = 10) and 97% of the rats in the treatment group (n = 30) developed RTV. Conclusion. The administration of acetylcysteine, theophylline, or both prior to iohexol injection did not prevent RTV from occurring in rats.