A clinical trial of a new low osmolality contrast medium

Abstract

The discomfort of cerebral arteriography is due mainly to the osmolality of the contrast medium injection. A new low osmolality contrast medium, Hexabrix (32% I), Na and meglumine salts of ioxaglic acid, was compared with Conray 280 (28% I), meglumine iothalamate, for carotid arteriography in 33 conscious patients. Thirty patients preferred the ioxaglate solution, which caused significantly less sensation of heat. Three patients could not distinguish between the 2 media. No patient preferred iothalamate. Ioxaglic acid is a newly synthesized mono-acid dimer. Its salts produce the same osmolality as non-ionics (e.g., metrizamide), and 1/3 of the osmolality of currently used mono-valent salts (e.g., meglumine iothalamate) in solutions of the same I content. Low osmolality contrast media have significant clinical advantages and will probably become the media of choice for arteriography and venography.