Abstract
Iodinated contrast agents are essential for accurate diagnostics but pose a risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CIAKI), primarily through oxidative stress. Current guidelines recommend intravenous hydration as the main preventive strategy. Targeted temperature management (TTM), which lowers core body temperature, has shown protective effects in ischemic conditions. However, its role in CIAKI remains unclear. This study investigated whether TTM at 33 and 36 °C can mitigate CIAKI. Forty-two Sprague–Dawley rats were assigned to six groups (n = 7 per group): Control, TTM 33 °C, TTM 36 °C, CIAKI, CIAKI with TTM 33 °C, and CIAKI with TTM 36 °C. Body temperature was regulated using external cooling, and blood and tissue samples were collected after 24 h. Serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and markers of oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and renal injury were evaluated. Oxidative stress increased in the CIAKI group but decreased in both TTM groups. Superoxide dismutase levels declined in the CIAKI group but were restored with TTM. Apoptotic and inflammatory markers were elevated in the CIAKI group but reduced with TTM. Renal function was better preserved in the TTM at 36 °C group than in the TTM at 33 °C group. These findings suggest that TTM at 33 and 36 ℃ groups attenuates CIAKI by reducing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. While TTM at 33 and 36℃ demonstrated protective effects, TTM at 36 °C may provide a more pronounced functional benefit.
Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
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Funding
This work was supported by a grant from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (No, RS-2022-NR069684 to YEC), and by a faculty research grant from Yonsei University College of Medicine (6–2022-0177 to YEC). Also, a grant by the Ministry of Science and ICT and Future Planning (No, RS-2025–00563100 to JSY), and by a faculty research grant from Yonsei University College of Medicine to JSY (6–2023-0093).
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HO: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Resources, Validation, Visualization, Writing-original draft & editing; JB: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal analysis, Investigation, Resources, Validation, Writing-review & editing; JP: Formal analysis, Methodology, Resources, Writing-review & editing; GBP: Data curation, Investigation, Resources; JSY: Conceptualization , Funding acquisition, Project administration, Supervision, Writing-review & editing; YEC: Conceptualization, Funding acquisition, Methodology, Project administration, Supervision, Writing-review & editing
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For animal study: This study was approved by the department of Laboratory Resources at Yonsei University and the Animal Ethics Committee (approval number: 2019–0314). For human study: not applicable.
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Oh, H., Beom, J., Park, J. et al. Targeted temperature management at 33 and 36 °C mitigates contrast-induced acute kidney injury. Sci Rep (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-49430-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-49430-1
