The toxicity of the non-ionic water-soluble contrast media iohexol and metrizamide (Amipaque) in selective vertebral angiography. An experimental study in rabbits.

Selective left vertebral angiography was carried out in 25 rabbits comparing the toxic effects of iohexol and metrizamide (Amipaque). The iodine concentration for iohexol was 280 and 350 mg/ml and for metrizamide 350 mg/ml. Short general convulsions were seen in many of the animals with iohexol in the concentration of 350 mg iodine/ml. Cardiovascular reactions were seen with both contrast media, but were more marked with iohexol than with metrizamide in the concentration of 350 mg iodine/ml. Both iohexol and metrizamide are far less toxic than the ionic contrast medium metrizoate, but metrizamide seems to be less toxic than iohexol in vertebral angiography.