Lung CT with contrast & CKD 3A

Posted by abob @abob, Apr 24 8:37pm

Husband is just in remission, now getting Chest CTs every 6 months. He was just diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3A. I have read that contrast negatively impacts CKD. Not sure what to do.

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Profile picture for nycmusic @nycmusic

@lycisca are all oral contrasts okay for kidneys ?

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@nycmusic I can't give you a definitive answer because I usually get my CT at the cancer center I go to or at the hospital affiliated with it. I think @gingerw 's reply is the best.

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Did a little reading and found that it is possible for the CT techs to give IV hydration following the CT to aid in clearing the contrast….if one has borderline kidney issues, they may be more willing to do this than changing the contrast…it takes an extra hour or 2, could be very worthwhile.

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Have read that a CT tech can give IV hydration after scan, which sounds very helpful.

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Read that one can get CT techs to give IV hydration after CT, to help clear the contrast…takes 1-2 hours, could be worth it. Hydration is a big issue, for me—since I had resection of gut, I need extra.

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Profile picture for abob @abob

Thanks all.
I looked up my husband’s results based on your comments.
It looks like his recent dx is due to him being on the cusp.
EGFR is 59
ALBUMIN/CREATININE RATIO, RANDOM URINE is 87

So if he drinks lots of water before and afterward, he should be ok.
We will discuss future contrast with oncology at CT review appt.

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@abob read that you can ask the CT tech for IV hydration after imaging is done…no harm in asking !

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Profile picture for denzie @denzie

When making me was diagnosed they cut the contrast so that only one of my every three month CTs uses it. I need to have at least one as I have an aortic aneurysm and my cardiologist requires it.

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@denzie Your cardiologist should be willing to switch the CT to an MRI/MRA and if they are using the new MRI contrast the risk of kidney damage is very low if your eGFR is above 30. Talk to their imaging department to learn what contrast they use, do your research and then talk with your doctor or send them a msg. I did it and it converted the doctors involved once they checked out my research - they did not know. I wish you success.

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Profile picture for jabrown0407 @jabrown0407

@denzie Your cardiologist should be willing to switch the CT to an MRI/MRA and if they are using the new MRI contrast the risk of kidney damage is very low if your eGFR is above 30. Talk to their imaging department to learn what contrast they use, do your research and then talk with your doctor or send them a msg. I did it and it converted the doctors involved once they checked out my research - they did not know. I wish you success.

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@jabrown0407 thx for your reply.
Monitoring CT order is from oncologist, who did a credible job of putting my husband’s NSCLC into remission. However since their communication to patients, pharmacists, other clinicians is extremely lacking/nonexistent, I would never recommend them.

So I reached out to our PCP who advised that he can take the contrast based on his EGRF, just drink lots of water to flush it out.

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Profile picture for jabrown0407 @jabrown0407

@denzie Your cardiologist should be willing to switch the CT to an MRI/MRA and if they are using the new MRI contrast the risk of kidney damage is very low if your eGFR is above 30. Talk to their imaging department to learn what contrast they use, do your research and then talk with your doctor or send them a msg. I did it and it converted the doctors involved once they checked out my research - they did not know. I wish you success.

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@jabrown0407 excellent advice thank you. I need to look into this as my cardiac surgeon is also using my CTs to evaluate an ascending aortic aneurysm.

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