Dopamina no previene insuficiencia renal aguda

Hace ya un tiempo (2001) en Critical Care Medicine se publicó un meta-análisis que mostró que la dopamina en bajas dosis (5µg/kg/min) no reduce la incidencia de insuficiencia renal aguda. Cabe recordar que las recomendaciones 2000 para reanimación cardiopulmonar y atención cardiovascular de urgencia de la American Heart Association no recomiendan el uso de dopamina para este efecto.

Use of dopamine in acute renal failure: A meta-analysis.
Clinical Investigations Critical Care Medicine. 29(8):1526-1531, August 2001.Kellum, John A. MD; M. Decker, Janine RN

Abstract
Objective: To determine whether low-dose dopamine administration reduces the incidence or severity of acute renal failure, need for dialysis, or mortality in patients with critical illness.
Data Sources and Study Selection : We performed a MEDLINE search of literature published from 1966 to 2000 for studies addressing the use of dopamine in the prevention and/or treatment of renal dysfunction.
Data Extraction : Data were abstracted regarding design characteristics, population, intervention, and outcomes. Results of individual randomized clinical trials were pooled using a fixed effects model and a Mantel-Haenszel weighted chi-square analysis.
Data Synthesis: We identified a total of 58 studies (n = 2149). Of these, outcome data were reported in 24 studies (n = 1019) and 17 of these were randomized clinical trials (n = 854). Dopamine did not prevent mortality, (relative risk, 0.90 [0.44-1.83];p = .92), onset of acute renal failure (relative risk, 0.81 [0.55-1.19];p = .34), or need for dialysis, (relative risk, 0.83 [0.55-1.24];p = .42). There was sufficient statistical power to exclude any large (>50%) effect of dopamine on the risk of acute renal failure or need for dialysis.

Conclusions: The use of low-dose dopamine for the treatment or prevention of acute renal failure cannot be justified on the basis of available evidence and should be eliminated from routine clinical use.