Contrast-medium-induced electrocardiographic abnormalities: comparison of bolus and infusion of methylglucamine iodamide and methylglucamine/sodium diatrizoate.

A double-blind study comparing electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities induced by methyglucamine iodamide and methylglucamine/sodium diatrizoate was conducted in 189 patients. The media were each administered by both bolus and infusion. Iodamide caused fewer ECG changes both by injection and infusion. This contrast medium also resulted in fewer ECG changes in the patient groups with known prior ECG abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, arrhythmias, ischemia, or renal impairment and in those over 50 years of age. Digitalis did not increase the frequency of ECG abnormalities with either medium. With diatrizoate, the lower bolus dose produced as many major ECG changes in the presence of preexisting ECG abnormalities (arrhythmias, ischemia) or prior cardiovascular disease as the three-times-larger infusion dose more slowly administered; conversely, the opposite was found when renal insufficiency or older age existed. The conclusion is that iodamide media caused fewer ECG abnormalities and may be less hazardous.