Iodinated contrast agents: effect on acetylcholine hydrolase. In vitro study.

Several conventional and new contrast media were studied in vitro in order to evaluate their effects on acetylcholine hydrolase. Iohexol proved to be the most potent inhibitor of cholinesterase; all other conventional ionic agents are not inhibitors or they are weak inhibitors at the concentrations that are apparently achieved locally in clinical practice. The full clinical significance of the relationship between cholinesterase inhibition in vitro and contrast media toxicity must be reviewed.