Final answer:
Knowing a patient's creatinine level before administering contrast is crucial to assess kidney function and the risk of ARF since contrast can be harmful to compromised kidneys.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is important to know a patient's creatinine level before injection of contrast because creatinine levels are an indicator of kidney function, specifically glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Contrast agents used in medical imaging can be nephrotoxic, and patients with impaired kidney function are at a higher risk of developing acute renal failure (ARF) following exposure to contrast. Hence, assessing the creatinine levels helps in gauging the risk and proceeding with caution.
Creatinine clearance test is a widely recognized method to assess GFR. Elevated levels of creatinine in the blood could suggest kidney damage or malfunction, which may intensify if contrast dye is used. Moreover, conditions such as dehydration, medications, and certain medical conditions can interfere with normal kidney function, further escalating the risk when using contrast media, making the pre-test evaluation essential.