Hemodynamic effects of gadodiamide injection and gadopentetate dimeglumine in anesthetized dogs.

A nonionic (gadodiamide injection) and an ionic (gadopentetate dimeglumine) contrast medium were compared for their effect on hemodynamics in the anesthetized, open-chest dog. Both agents were administered i.v. over 15 s at dosages of 1.0 and 1.5 mmol/kg, in randomized order. Both contrast agents resulted in transient but statistically significant decreases in aortic pressure, left ventricular pressure, indices of left ventricular contractility and relaxation, and systemic and pulmonary vascular resistance, and increases in aortic blood flow. At each dosage investigated, the changes associated with the administration of gadodiamide injection were of significantly smaller magnitude than those seen after gadopentetate dimeglumine and returned to preadministration levels sooner. The results from this study confirm that gadodiamide injection produces less severe alterations in hemodynamics than gadopentetate dimeglumine.