Cholangiographic excretion studies. Solu-Biloptin and Biligrafin comparison

The biliary concentration and output of two cholangiographic agents, Solu-Biloptin (calcium ipodate) and Biligrafin (meglumine iodipamide), were compared in labrador dogs. The maximum output of ipodate was approximately 20 mumol/min compared with 16 mumol/min for iodipamide. The maximum bile iodine concentration with both ipodate and iodipamide was similar (18-20 mgI/Ml) but the molar concentration of ipodate was almost twice that of iodipamide. Iodipamide was found to be much more choleretic, producing 0.025 ml of bile/mumole excreted compared with 0.009 ml/mumole for ipodate. Compared with iodipamide the lower choleretic effect and higher molar concentration of ipodate suggests that hepatic conjugation of the oral agent may permit its excretion in bile salt micelles.