[Hemodynamic effects of intracardiac diatritoic acid and their dependance on left ventricular function and severity of coronary sclerosis (author's transl)].

In 16 patients with coronary heart disease (n = 13) and cardiomyopathy (n = 3) heart rate, left ventricular pressure and contractility (max dp/dt, min dp/dt and Vpm) were measured prior during and after three consecutive left ventricular angiograms. Heart rate decreased during angiography and increased slightly but significantly after angiography. Systolic and diastolic left ventricular pressure, max dp/dt and min dp/dt increased after angiography, whereas Vpm remained unchanged. Any hemodynamic changes occuring were moderate and only of short duration. No significant differences were found a) between patients with angiographically proven normal and reduced left ventricular function, b) between patients with normal or increased left ventricular filling pressure or c) between those with slight or severe coronary heart disease. The investigations point to a good tolerance for the sodium methyl glucamine salt of diatrizoic acid (Urografin 76) even in patients with progressed coronary heart disease. Severe side-effects described in animal experiments indicate a poor comparibility between animal models and human studies. Moreover animal experiments are mostly done with high doses not used clinically.