Cardiovascular effects of iohexol in the rat and the isolated rabbit heart.

The haemodynamic and cardiac side effects of the new non-ionic contrast medium, iohexol, were investigated anaesthetized rats and isolated perfused rabbit hearts. Iohexol, caused a positive inotropic response in both models, elevated coronary flow and in high doses had an inhibitory influence on the cardiac conducting system. From a comparison with Amipaque and Urografin 76 it was concluded that with respect to cardiac side effects iohexol can be ranked between these media.