Patients with CKD 3 (eGFR 30 to 59 ml/min/1.73 m2)
NSF developing after GBCA administration to patients with eGFR > 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 is exceedingly
rare. However, eGFR determinations may fluctuate from one day to the next (with an eGFR level just above
30 on one day changing to an eGFR below 30 on another day). It is for this reason that the precautions
described above for CKD4 and CKD5 patients are also recommended for inpatients with an eGFR < 40 ml
min/1.73 m2. In comparison, no special precautions are required in patients with an eGFR of 40 to 59 ml/
min/1.73 m2 [36,37].
Patients with CKD 1 or 2 (eGFR 60 to 119 ml min/1.73 m2)
There is no evidence that patients in these groups are at increased risk of developing NSF. Current
consensus is that any GBCA can be administered safely to these patients.
Patients with acute kidney injury (AKI)
Patients with AKI who have been exposed to GBCA are at risk for developing NSF [15]. Due to the
temporal lag between eGFR (which is calculated using serum creatinine values) and actual glomerular
filtration rates, it is not possible to determine whether a given patient has AKI based on a single eGFR
determination. Accordingly, caution should be exercised in use of GBCA in patients with known or
suspected AKI regardless of measured serum creatinine or calculated eGFR values. GBCA should only
be administered to these patients if absolutely necessary. When GBCA administration is required, agents
associated with the greatest apparent NSF-associated risk (Group I agents, see Table at end of Chapter)
should be avoided.
Children
At this time (August 2011) few pediatric cases of NSF have been reported, and no cases have been
reported in children under the age of 6 years. Nevertheless, there is not enough data to demonstrate that
NSF is less likely to occur in children than in adults with similarly significant renal disease. Therefore, it is
prudent to follow the same guidelines for adult and pediatric patients as described in the remainder of this
document. It should be noted, however, that eGFR values in certain premature infants and neonates may be
< 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 simply due to immature renal function (and not due to pathologic renal impairment).
In these individuals, the ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast Media believes that caution should still be
used when administering GBCAs, although an eGFR value < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 should not be considered
an absolute contraindication to GBCA administration.
Caveat
Information on NSF and its relationship to GBCA administration is still evolving, and the summary
included here represents only the most recent opinions of the ACR Committee on Drugs and Contrast
Media (as of January, 2012). As additional information becomes available, our understanding of causative
events leading to NSF and recommendations for preventing it may change, leading to further revisions of
this document.