Ioxilan, a third generation low osmolality nonionic contrast medium. Systemic and renal hemodynamic effects.

The choice between high cost, low toxicity nonionic contrast media (CM) and low cost ionic CM poses a dilemma for radiologists. Ioxilan, a third generation nonionic CM, is obtained by simple conversion from an ionic CM. To examine how this economically promising, low osmolality CM (570 mOsm at 300 mgI/ml) affects canine systemic and renal hemodynamics, IV bolus injections of 350 mgI/ml at 2 ml/kg of Iohexol and Ioxilan were compared. Satisfactory nephrograms and pyelograms were produced by both agents, without significant differences. The effects on systemic and renal hemodynamics were minimal and statistically equal for both CM. The acute systemic and renal responses and radiographic image quality of Ioxilan and Iohexol confirm that the two compounds are biologically equivalent, and that the novel molecular design employed in Ioxilan to achieve very low osmolality also provides good biological tolerance.