Massive VA trial tests cheap ways to protect kidneys during heart procedures

NCT ID NCT01467466

Completed Prevention Sponsor: VA Office of Research and Development Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This large study tested whether giving sodium bicarbonate (a type of fluid) or N-acetylcysteine (a supplement) before and after angiography could prevent serious kidney problems, including death or need for dialysis. Over 5,000 high-risk patients with kidney disease took part. The goal was to find a simple, affordable way to protect patients during these common heart procedures.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: sodium bicarbonate and N-acetylcysteine
What this could lead to: If successful, this could establish a simple, low-cost way to prevent kidney damage and other serious complications after angiography in people with existing kidney disease.
What could go wrong: This trial is already completed, so results are known. The interventions may not prove better than standard care, and the study focused on a specific high-risk group, so findings may not apply to everyone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

chronic kidney disease coronary artery disorder impaired renal function disease kidney disorder acute kidney injury prevention target

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACUTE RENAL FAILURE CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE KIDNEY DISEASE

Contacts and locations

Locations

Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA

Decatur, Georgia, 30033, United States
Auckland City Hospital

Auckland, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand
Austin Health

Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
Bay Pines VA Healthcare System, Pay Pines, FL

Bay Pines, Florida, 33708, United States
Canberra Hospital

Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2606, Australia
Central Arkansas VHS John L. McClellan Memorial Veterans Hospital, Little Rock, AR

Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205-5484, United States
Charlie Norwood VA Medical Center, Augusta, GA

Augusta, Georgia, 30904, United States
Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH

Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220, United States
Concord Hospital

Concord, New South Wales, 2139, Australia
Dayton VA Medical Center, Dayton, OH

Dayton, Ohio, 45428, United States
Durham VA Medical Center, Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina, 27705, United States
Flinders Medical Centre

Bedford Park, South Australia, 5042, Australia
Fremantle Hospital

Fremantle, Western Australia, 6160, Australia
Gosford Hospital

Gosford, New South Wales, 2250, Australia
Hospital Serdang

Sepang, Selangor, 43300, Malaysia
Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center, Richmond, VA

Richmond, Virginia, 23249, United States
Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
Kansas City VA Medical Center, Kansas City, MO

Kansas City, Missouri, 64128, United States
Liverpool Hospital

Liverpool, New South Wales, 2170, Australia
Louis Stokes VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH

Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
Manhattan Campus of the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY

New York, New York, 10010, United States
Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN

Memphis, Tennessee, 38104, United States
Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Minneapolis VA Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55417, United States
Nepean Hospital

Kingswood, New South Wales, 2747, Australia
New Mexico VA Health Care System, Albuquerque, NM

Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87108-5153, United States
North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Gainesville, FL

Gainesville, Florida, 32608, United States
Northern Health

Epping, Victoria, 3076, Australia
Oklahoma City VA Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
Penang Hospital

George Town, Pulau Pinang, 10990, Malaysia
Portland VA Medical Center, Portland, OR

Portland, Oregon, 97201, United States
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center, Charleston, SC

Charleston, South Carolina, 29401-5799, United States
Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN

Indianapolis, Indiana, 46202-2884, United States
Royal North Shore Hospital

St Leonards, New South Wales, 2065, Australia
Royal Perth Hospital

Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia
Salem VA Medical Center, Salem, VA

Salem, Virginia, 24153, United States
San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA

San Francisco, California, 94121, United States
Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital

Nedlands, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
South Texas Health Care System, San Antonio, TX

San Antonio, Texas, 78229, United States
Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, Tucson

Tucson, Arizona, 85723, United States
St. George Hospital

Kogarah, New South Wales, 2217, Australia
St. Louis VA Medical Center John Cochran Division, St. Louis, MO

St Louis, Missouri, 63106, United States
Taranaki Base Hospital

Westown, New Plymouth, 4310, New Zealand
University of Malaya Medical Center

Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48113, United States
VA Boston Healthcare System West Roxbury Campus, West Roxbury, MA

West Roxbury, Massachusetts, 02132, United States
VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, West Los Angeles, CA

West Los Angeles, California, 90073, United States
VA North Texas Health Care System Dallas VA Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Dallas, Texas, 75216, United States
VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA

Palo Alto, California, 94304-1290, United States
VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System University Drive Division, Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15240, United States
VA Puget Sound Health Care System Seattle Division, Seattle, WA

Seattle, Washington, 98108, United States
VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84148, United States
VA Western New York Healthcare System, Buffalo, NY

Buffalo, New York, 14215, United States
Wellington Hospital

Newtown, Wellington Region, 1142, New Zealand

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