Effect of Theophylline on Prevention of Contrast-Induced Acute Kidney Injury: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Theophylline treatment significantly reduced the incidence of contrast-induced AKI and had a modest improvement on kidney function after contrast exposure in the general population. However, beneficial effects of theophylline were not observed in patients with high baseline creatinine values (serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL). In addition, the long-term effect of this agent on more clinically important outcomes was not established. Future large-scale high-quality multicenter trials in participants with different underlying risks of contrast-induced AKI and that incorporate the evaluation of clinically relevant outcomes are required.