Preventive effects of nitric oxide donors in contrast-induced nephropathy in patients undergoing coronary artery angiography: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of 13 randomized controlled trials

Background: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We aimed to assess the latest evidence on the preventive effects of nitric oxide (NO) donors in CIN patients undergoing CAG/PCI.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs from PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane searches until May 5th, 2024. Dichotomous data were pooled using risk ratio (RR), and continuous data were pooled using mean difference (MD), both with a 95% confidence interval (CI), using (R version 4.3).

Results: Our analysis included 13 RCTs encompassing 3,550 patients. NO donors were significantly associated with a decreased incidence of CIN compared to placebo either as an oral administration (RR: 0.33 with 95% CI [0.26, 0.42], P < 0.01) or IV infusions (RR: 0.56 with 95% CI [0.40, 0.78], P < 0.01). Moreover, NO donors were significantly associated with decreased serum creatinine levels compared to placebo either as an oral administration (MD: - 0.07 with 95% CI [- 0.10, - 0.04], P < 0.01) or IV infusions (MD: - 0.07 with 95% CI [- 0.09, - 0.04], P < 0.01). In terms of safety, NO donors were significantly associated with a decreased incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) compared to placebo as an oral administration (RR: 0.64 with 95% CI [0.45, 0.89], P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between NO donors as IV infusions and placebo in MACE (RR: 0.68 with 95% CI [0.38, 1.21], P = 0.18). Finally, NO donors were significantly associated with a decreased incidence of all-cause mortality compared to placebo as an oral administration (RR: 0.58 with 95% CI [0.36, 0.94], P = 0.03). Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality between IV infusions of NO donors and placebo (RR: 1.84 with 95% CI [0.40, 8.52], P = 0.44).

Conclusion: NO donors as adjunct therapy are associated with reduced incidence of CIN and decreased serum creatinine levels, either as an oral or IV administration. They were also associated with reduced incidence of MACE, all-cause mortality, and recurrent myocardial infarction as an oral administration, which makes this simple, low-cost intervention an important therapeutic option in patients undergoing CAG/PCI.