Low-dose dopamine in early renal dysfunction
Trial question
What is the role of low-dose dopamine in critically ill patients at risk of renal failure?
Study design
Multi-center
Double blinded
RCT
Population
Characteristics of study participants
40.0% female
60.0% male
N = 324
324 patients (128 female, 196 male).
Inclusion criteria: critically ill patients at risk of renal failure.
Key exclusion criteria: age < 18 years; an episode of acute renal failure within the previous 3 months; previous renal transplantation; use of dopamine at any dose during the current hospital stay; and unsuitability for use of RRT.
Interventions
N=161 low-dose dopamine (2 mcg/kg/min through central venous catheter while in the ICU).
N=163 placebo (matching placebo through central venous catheter while in the ICU).
Primary outcome
Peak serum creatinine concentration
245
249
249.0
186.8
124.5
62.3
0.0
Low-dose
dopamine
Placebo
No significant
difference ↔
No significant difference in peak serum creatinine concentration (245 vs. 249; difference 4, 95% CI -28 to 36).
Secondary outcomes
No significant difference in requirement of RRT (35 vs. 40; difference 5, 95% CI -10 to 20).
Conclusion
In critically ill patients at risk of renal failure, low-dose dopamine was not superior to placebo with respect to peak serum creatinine concentration.
Reference
R Bellomo, M Chapman, S Finfer et al. Low-dose dopamine in patients with early renal dysfunction: a placebo-controlled randomised trial. Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) Clinical Trials Group. Lancet. 2000 Dec 23-30;356(9248):2139-43.
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