Iodine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease

Ah, you might wonder, I do not consume too much iodine. That can be true if you do not like seafoods because those regularly contain high amounts of iodine. That doesn't constitute a problem because iodine is an essential element for life. Yes, our life too.

The problem not your beloved seafood, but iodine-containing contrast mediums such as those injected for an anginogram or radiology dye studies.

[Anginogram of the heart using iodine contrast medium]

Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN) is a Chronic Kidney Disease of non-Traditional (CKDnT) causes is a form of kidney damage in which there has been recent exposure to medical imaging contrast material without another clear cause for the acute kidney injury. Despite technological advances, Contrast-Induced Nephropathy remains responsible for a third of all hospital-acquired acute kidney injury (AKI)[1][2].

The mechanism of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy is still not entirely understood, but it is thought to include direct damage from reactive oxygen species, contrast-induced increase in urine output, increased oxygen consumption, changes in dilation and narrowing of the blood vessels to the kidneys or changes in urine viscosity[3]. While the exact cause remains unknown, exposure to medical imaging contrast material is known to damage the kidneys.

I would like to propose the term Iodine-Induced Chronic Kidney Disease for this specific Chronic Kidney Disease.

Other non-Traditional causes of Chronic Kidney Disease have already been discussed on this website, and they include – using my new nomenclature Medication Related Chronic Kidney Disease, Mycotoxin Related Chronic Kidney Disease, Silica Dust Related Chronic Kidney Disease, Aristolochic Acid Related Chronic Kidney Disease, Cadmium Related Chronic Kidney Disease, Radiation Related Chronic Kidney Disease, Sugar Cane Worker Chronic Kidney Disease, Phosphate Fertiliser Related Chronic Kidney Disease and High Altitude Related Chronic Kidney Disease.


[1] Hou et al: Hospital-acquired renal insufficiency: a prospective study in American Journal of Medicine – 1983
[2] Nash et al: Hospital-acquired renal insufficiency in American Journal of Kidney Diseases – 2002 
[3] Fernandes et al: Impact of Iodinated Contrast on Renal Function and Hemodynamics in Rats with Chronic Hyperglycemia and Chronic Kidney Disease in BioMed Research International – 2016