The administration of nitric oxide during and after prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass may reduce acute kidney injury (AKI), according to results from the NITRIC trial presented Nov. 11 during AHA 2015 in Orlando.

The trial looked at 217 patients at Xijing Hospital in Xian, China, with normal pre-operative kidney function who were undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients were randomized to receive either 80 parts per million of nitric oxide during cardiopulmonary bypass and for 24 hours after surgery, or standard of care.

Results showed that the administration of nitric oxide "significantly decreased" the incidence of AKI from 63 percent in the standard care group to 50 percent in the nitric oxide group (p=0.04). In addition, the administration of 80 parts per million of nitric oxide for 24 hours was safe, according to the investigators.

The investigators conclude that their findings suggest that "interventions that prevent vascular depletion of nitric oxide might be a possible target to prevent renal injury associated with hemolysis."

"Moving forward, a much larger study is needed to confirm this preliminary trial," said Kim A. Eagle, MD, MACC, editor-in-chief of ACC.org.

Keywords: AHA Annual Scientific Sessions, Acute Kidney Injury, Cardiopulmonary Bypass, Cell Death, Hemolysis, Incidence, Kidney, Nitric Oxide, Standard of Care

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