This study was a multicenter, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial that investigated the effects of starting low-dose dopamine in fusion in critically ill patients who had evidence of SIRS and early renal dysfunction. 328 patients admitted to 23 intensive care units for a variety of medical and surgical conditions were randomized to receive dopamine infused at 2 mcg/kg/min or placebo. No significant differences were found between the two groups in both the primary outcome (peak serum creatinine concentration) and secondary outcomes (including urine output, need for renal replacement therapy, and duration of ICU and hospital stay). The study concluded that low-dose dopamine does not confer any benefit to critically ill patients at risk for renal failure.
The effect of low-dose furosemide in critically ill patients with early acute kidney injury: A pilot randomized blinded controlled trial (the SPARK study)