Intravenous cholangiography: an infusion regimen derived from plasma concentration measurements.

The excretion of the biliary contrast medium meglumine ioglycamate into the bile is limited by a hepatic transport maximum system. A minimum plasma concentration, approximately 800-1,000 microgram/ml is required to maintain maximum excretion of contrast medium. Serial measurements of the plasma levels of ioglycamate were made on 21 patients during routine intravenous cholangiography, using different infusion rates. An infusion regimen using 10 mg/kg/min for 15 min, then 60 mg/min is described, which rapidly elevates the plasma concentration to the optimum level and maintains it at, or slightly above this level.