Amipaque (metrizamide) in vascular use and use in body cavities: a survey of the initial clinical trials.

A review of the initial 76 clinical trials with Amipaque in vascular radiology and in examinations of the body cavities, mostly performed in the Scandinavian countries, is given. The clinical material presented comprises a total of 2,661 Amipaque examinations, 1,784 examinations performed intravascularly and 515 in body cavities. In addition, 362 vascular examinations with Amipaque in children are presented. Generally, no difference in visualization compared to ionic media was found. However, improved visualization was reported in some few angiographic studies and higher contrast density was indicated in the urograms. Compared to ionic media, Amipaque caused considerably less subjective reactions and less hemodynamic effects. A remarkable reduction in post-phlebographic thrombosis following leg phlebography was found with Amipaque. No death related to Amipaque occurred, and few contrast medium reactions have been recorded. Thus, the good tolerability of the non-ionic Amipaque shown in animal studies has also been confirmed clinically outside the subarachnoid space.