The Agatston score is a predictor of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with stable coronary artery disease after percutaneous coronary intervention

Introduction:
Agatston coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring is the primary scoring method used to determine the summed value of calcium burden. The Agatston CAC score method is a non-invasive, rapid, easily accessible tool that helps identify the weighted sum of the calcium burden in arteries using multi-detector computed tomography. The Agatston CAC score is a significant prognostic indicator for vascular diseases in the long term.

Aim:
To investigate the relationship between the Agatston CAC score and contrast-induced acute kidney injury (C-AKI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) following a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Material and methods:
This retrospective study included 360 patients with stable CAD who received PCI between January 2023 and December 2023. The Agatston score was measured non-invasively on computed tomography before the coronary angiography. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of the Agatston CAC score and the optimal cutoff value for predicting C-AKI.

Results:
The 360 patients included in the study were divided into two groups. 71 patients were classified as C-AKI+ while 289 patients were classified as C-AKI-. There was no significant difference in terms of gender, but the C-AKI+ group was significantly older. The C-AKI+ group was observed to have significantly higher levels of uric acid, Agatston score and Mehran score. Regression analyses showed that age, uric acid, Agatston score and Mehran score were independent risk factors for C-AKI.

Conclusions:
The Agatston CAC score was found to be an independent risk factor for C-AKI in patients with stable CAD with PCI.