Initial experience with a nonionic, dimeric contrast medium (iotrolan) in direct and indirect arteriography: a randomized, intraindividual double-blind study in 60 patients.

The new isotonic contrast medium iotrolan has been compared with iopromide in aortofemoral arteriography, selective femoral arteriography, and intravenous digital substraction angiography (DSA). In each case a crossover study design has been chosen with special emphasis on patient comfort. Despite problems in the interpretation of results due to a "hangover" effect in selective peripheral arteriography, it may be concluded: (1) Iotrolan causes significantly less discomfort, such as the feeling of heat and most likely also pain, than iopromide. However, one patient reported slight pain after the injection of iotrolan even when no previous injection of iopromide had been performed; (2) in intravenous DSA contrast appeared 1 to 2 seconds later in the region of interest after the injection of iotrolan compared with iopromide, probably due to the slightly higher viscosity of the former agent; (3) otherwise, no differences between the two agents have been observed. No cardiovascular or other kind of side effects occurred with the exception of one slight allergy-like reaction in 60 patients.