Osmotic effects of intravenous contrast agents on renal function.

Because of renewed interest in renal insufficiency after excretory urography a set of experiments was designed to determine the effects of high dose intravenous contrast agents on renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. A reproducible decrease in renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate was noted with high dose intravenous contrast agents and an osmotically similar solution without the radiographically active compound. The results are discussed in light of clinical significance.