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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2025 Feb 4;67(2):ezaf035.
doi: 10.1093/ejcts/ezaf035.

Intravenous amino acids for renal protection in patients receiving temporary mechanical circulatory support: a secondary subgroup analysis of the PROTECTION study

Alessandro Belletti  1 , Antonio Pisano  2 , Anna Mara Scandroglio  1 , Eugenio Garofalo  3 , Maria Grazia Calabrò  1 , Federica Ferrod  4 , Fabrizio Monaco  1 , Claudio Brambillasca  5 , Martina Baiardo Redaelli  1 , Francesco Meroi  6 , Evgeny Fominskiy  1 , Rosaria Vignale  7 , Silvia Ajello  1 , Maria Venditto  2 , Tommaso Scquizzato  1 , Sabrina Porta  4 , Rosario Losiggio  1 , Paola Suriano  5 , Domenico Pontillo  1 , Daniele Orso  6 , Enrico Tomasi  8 , Gianluca Paternoster  9 , Vladimir Lomivorotov  10 , Federico Longhini  3 , Giovanni Landoni  1   11 , Alberto Zangrillo  1   11 , Francesco Maisano  11   12 , Rinaldo Bellomo  13   14   15   16   17 , Marina Pieri  1   11 ; PROTECTION Study Group Collaborators
Collaborators, Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Intravenous amino acids for renal protection in patients receiving temporary mechanical circulatory support: a secondary subgroup analysis of the PROTECTION study

Alessandro Belletti et al. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. .

Abstract

Objectives: In cardiac surgery patients, acute kidney injury (AKI) frequently occurs in the setting of haemodynamic instability and treatment with temporary mechanical circulatory support (tMCS). Recent evidence suggests amino acids (AA) infusion may reduce AKI rate. However, the effect of AA infusion in patients requiring tMCS may be less effective.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the PROTECTION multicentre randomized controlled trial including all patients treated with tMCS. Patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass were randomized to receive 2 g/kg ideal body weight/day of intravenous AA to a maximum of 100 g/day or matching placebo from operating room admission until up to 3 days, receipt of renal-replacement therapy, discharge from ICU or death. The primary outcome of the PROTECTION study was the rate of AKI, as in this secondary analysis. A total of 3511 patients were randomized in the study.

Results: We studied 232 patients who received tMCS, 112 randomized to AA infusion and 120 to placebo. The median preoperative serum creatinine value was significantly higher among AA group patients (AA: 1.08, interquartile range 0.90-1.26; placebo: 0.98, interquartile range 0.85-1.15; P = 0.02). The rate of AKI, however, was lower in patients randomized to AA (44.6% vs 60.8%; relative risk 0.73; 95% confidence interval (0.57-0.94); P = 0.01; number needed to treat = 6). We found no significant differences in secondary outcomes.

Conclusions: Short-term AA infusion appears to reduce rate of AKI among patients requiring tMCS. Use of AA in this population at high-risk for renal failure appears justified.

Clinical trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03709264.

Keywords: Acute heart failure; Acute kidney injury; Cardiogenic shock; Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; Micro-axial flow pump; Renal-replacement therapy.

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