Safety and tolerability of iodixanol in healthy volunteers with reference to two monomeric X-ray contrast media

Abstract

The low osmolar, non-ionic X-ray contrast media have shown a lower frequency of adverse events than the older ionic ones. In this study changes in routine clinical-chemical parameters in blood and urine, vital signs and adverse events were recorded in six groups of 10 healthy male volunteers receiving either iodixanol, a new non-ionic, dimeric X-ray contrast medium for general vascular use, or one of the two non-ionic, monomeric contrast media iopentol and iopamidol. Minor decreases were observed in the values for haemoglobin, haematocrit and erythrocytes 5 min and 3 days after injection of iodixanol. A minor increase was seen in platelets and total protein after 3 days. A transient increase in serum osmolality was seen 5 min after the injections of iopentol and iopamidol. This was not seen in any iodixanol group. The level of thyrotropin showed an increase in all groups at 3 days. It was back to normal within 21 days. No changes of clinical importance were seen regarding blood pressure, heart rate or ECG in any volunteer. No severe adverse events were reported. All events were of short duration, and of mild or moderate intensity. The results, however, may indicate a lower frequency of adverse events/discomfort after the administration of the dimeric iodixanol than the 2 monomeric contrast media iopentol and iopamidol.