Fifteen studies with 970 participants were included. In 14 studies (646 participants) dopamine was used prophylactically prior to a potential renal insult, and in one study (324 participants) it was used in patients with established acute renal dysfunction.
Incidence of acute renal dysfunction.
There was no statistically-significant difference between low-dose dopamine and placebo: the RR was 1.01 (95% CI: 0.79, 1.28); chi-squared was 9.51 (d.f.=8, p=0.3). There was no statistically-significant difference between low-dose dopamine and placebo in any of the subgroups studied.
Change in serum creatinine.
There was marked heterogeneity between the studies. There was no significant difference between low-dose dopamine and placebo: the weighted MD was 5.1 micromol/L (95% CI: -6.5, 16.7); chi-squared was 1382.76 (d.f.=12, p<0.00001). When considering the subgroups, there was a significant difference (in favour of placebo) between low-dose dopamine and placebo for patients who had received nephrotoxic drugs (2 RCTs): the weighted MD was 54.08 micromol/L (95% CI: 37.24, 70.91); chi-squared was 3.56 (d.f.=1, p<0.059). There was no statistically-significant difference between the intervention groups for any of the other subgroups.