Core Curriculum in Nephrology

The AJKD has published a "Core Curriculum in Nephrology" which is a (near)-comprehensive tabulation of the medical knowledge of Nephrology.  A good resource for board review, the articles are freely available on the UPenn Renal Division website.  Many other landmark articles can be found there as well.  Thanks Dr Kopyt for bringing this useful site to my attention.

Rosuvastatin may prevent contrast nephropathy

In a study presented at the American College of Cardiology conference last month (PRATO-ACS), rosuvastatin significantly reduced the risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in the setting of NSTEMI.  Statin-naive patients with NSTEMI were randomized to receive rosuvastatin (40mg on admission then 20mg daily indefinitely) or atorvastatin only after discharge.  Patients in the rosuvastatin group had a lower incidence of CIN (6.7% vs 15.1%), defined as 25% or 0.5mg/dl increase in serum creatinine within 72 hours of contrast exposure.  Rosuvastatin is non-formulary at LVHN, but it seems likely to be a class effect so other statins could probably be substituted.

Thanks to Henry Schairer for calling my attention to this study.

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