Iodixanol in abdominal digital subtraction angiography. A randomized, double-blind, parallel trial with iodixanol and iohexol.

The safety, tolerability and efficacy of iodixanol 270 mg I/ml were compared to those of iohexol 300 mg I/ml in a double-blind, randomized, parallel abdominal intra-arterial DSA phase III trial. Fifty-nine patients were included in the trial; 39 patients received iodixanol and 20 received iohexol. The mean volume of iodixanol administered was 235.8 ml (0.93 g I/kg b.w.) while the mean volume of iohexol was 254.7 ml (1.10 g I/kg b.w.). No differences in diagnostic information and radiographic density were apparent in spite of the difference in the concentration of iodine. No serious adverse events occurred. Four patients (10%) in the iodixanol group and 2 (10%) in the iohexol group experienced adverse events. Eight percent of the injections of iodixanol promoted discomfort, compared to 12% of the injections of iohexol. An increase in S-urea and S-creatinine was seen with both agents the first day after injection, but appeared to be less pronounced with iodixanol than with iohexol. Other serum tests revealed no changes of clinical importance. Both iodixanol and iohexol were found to be effective, safe and well tolerated contrast media for abdominal intra-arterial DSA.