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To determine whether there are early renal function parameters (RFP) which can be monitored to rapidly detect nephrotoxicity induced by contrast media (CM), we observed RFP in 16 patients with normal renal function before and after administration of CM. Forty-eight hours after diatrizoate meglumine administration, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (SCr) increased (p < 0.05). In all patients, acute tubular damage was revealed by early urinary RFP. Increases in levels of serum angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE), β[sub 2] -microglobulin (β[sub 2] M) and urinary albumin (Alb) were associated with alterations in glomerular function. The changes in early RFP occurred earlier than those of BUN and SCr. The present study demonstrates that serum ACE, β[sub 2] M, urinary Alb, γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosidase are sensitive parameters for the early assessment of subclinical nephrotoxicity induced by CM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]