Use of additives to contrast media to improve imaging in plain film and computed tomography urography

To investigate the effects of additives to iodinated radiograph contrast agents on image quality in plain film and CT urography.

Urea (52 mg/mL), iloprost (10, 20, 50, and 100 ng/mL), nifedipine (0.02 mg/mL), papaverine (0.625 mg/mL) and sodium nitroprusside (0.05 microg/mL) were added to commercial iopromide (300 mg/mL) and iotrolan preparations (280 mg/mL) and plain film urograms were obtained at different time points after contrast injection in rabbits and dogs at iodine doses of 300 or 600 mg/kg body weight. The experiments were repeated in rabbits using CT imaging and iopromide or iotrolan plus urea (52 mg/mL) or iloprost (20 ng/mL) and iodine doses of 50 mg/kg body weight.

Urea and iloprost at low concentrations (10 and 20 ng/mL) increased image quality both in plain film and in CT urography. Iloprost at high concentrations (50 and 100 ng/mL), nifedipine, papaverine and sodium nitroprusside decreased image quality. An increase in image quality was accompanied by faster renal elimination of the contrast agent.

Image quality in plain film and CT urography might be improved by additives to the contrast medium. More data, particularly on dose-response relationships are needed.