Pulmonary Angiography with Iopamidol and Renografin 76 in Normal and Pulmonary Hypertensive Dogs

Abstract

The cardiovascular response produced during pulmonary angiography performed with the standard ionic agent diatrizoate (Renografin 76) and a new non-ionic agent iopamidol was compared in 9 dogs ventilated on room air and on 10% O2 which significantly elevated pulmonary arterial pressure. Iopamidol produced similar changes in mean aortic and pulmonary arterial pressures compared with normal saline (< 20% change). Renograffin 76 produced a significantly greater elevation in mean pulmonary arterial pressure (a 41% increase) in depression in mean aortic pressure (a 40% reduction) than either saline or iopamidol (P < 0.01). These results were similar for dogs being ventilated with room air and O2. Iopamidol should be better tolerated and therefore a safer contrast agent for pulmonary angiography than diatrizoate.