Clinical tolerance and diagnostic efficacy of iobitridol in contrast-enhanced CT in children.

Purpose: The purpose of this double-blind, randomized parallel trial was to evaluate and compare the clinical safety and the diagnostic efficacy of the new nonionic triiodinated contrast agent iobitridol (300 mg I/ml) with those of iohexol (300 mg I/ml) in CT examinations in children.

Material and methods: Eighty children of either sex were included in the study. Of those, 40 patients received iobitridol, 40 iohexol. Mean volume injected i.v. was 1.8 ml/kg b.w. Adverse reactions occurring during 24 hours after the injection of the contrast agent were recorded.

Results: Image quality was judged good or excellent in all study examinations and all were diagnostically informative. There was no significant difference in clinical safety between the 2 groups and only adverse reactions of mild or moderate intensity were reported in both groups.

Conclusion: Iobitridol appears to be a safe, well tolerated and effective contrast agent, when used for brain and body CT in children.