Changes in the rheologic properties of blood as induced by sodium/meglumine ioxaglate compared with sodium/meglumine diatrizoate and metrizamide.

The influence of the new angiographic contrast medium sodium/meglumine ioxaglate on the rheologic properties of blood in vitro was assessed by measurements of blood viscosity and by observation of red cell shape and aggregation. Compared with iodine-similar concentrations of sodium/meglumine diatrizoate and metrizamide, exposition of blood to the new compound was associated with a lower impairment of blood viscosity, rouleaux formation of red cells and with only minor alterations of red cell shape. These favourable results are due to the low hyperosmolality and to absence of direct influence on the red cell membrane of sodium/meglumine ioxaglate.