Cerebral angiography with the non-ionic water-soluble contrast medium iohexol and meglumine-Ca-metrizoate. A randomized double blind parallel study in man.

A double blind study was carried out to evaluate safety, tolerability and visualization quality of the non-ionic contrast medium Iohexol compared to Meglumine-Ca-Metrizoate (Isopaque Cerebral) for cerebral angiography. The two contrast media were found equal in most respects. A slight increase in systolic blood pressure following Meglumine-Ca-Metrizoate injections and a slight decrease in diastolic blood pressure following Iohexol were statistically significant. Tachycardia following injections of Meglumine-Ca-Metrizoate in the aortic arch was also significant and may indicate more discomfort from this medium, although no difference was found in patient interviews. The changes in blood pressure and heart rate were small and of no clinical importance.