Metrizamide compared with metrizoate in cardioangiography in high-risk patients with coronary artery disease.

In a double-blind, randomized, two-group study of 99 'high-risk' patients mainly with coronary artery disease, the non-ionic contrast medium, Amipaque (metrizamide), was compared with the ionic medium, Isopaque Coronar (meglumine-Na-Ca-metrizoate) in cinecardioangiography. In evaluating the influence of the contrast media on the left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), the material was divided into 2 groups, 55 patients with a basal LVEDP of 15 mmHg or less and 44 with an LVEDP above this level. In the former group LVEDP increased significantly after injection of the contrast medium into the left ventricle, but significantly less (p = 0.006) after Amipaque than after Isopaque Coronar. In the patients with a basal LVEDP above 15 mmHg, no significant change occurred in LVEDP after left ventriculography with any of the 2 contrast media. No serious complications occurred.