Competitive action of contrast media on the uric acid-albumin binding.

We investigated the competitive effect of iodinated contrast media on the binding of uric acid to albumin. This was an in vitro study utilizing the technique of equilibrium dialysis, with bovine serum albumin (BSA) as the protein substrate. It was demonstrated that some compounds, used for radiological visualization of the biliary passages, compete with uric acid for albumin binding. The meaning and clinical repercussions of this finding are discussed.