Clinical experience in North America with metrizamide. Evaluation of 1,850 subarachnoid examinations

The clinical experience of 1 850 diagnostic procedures performed with intrathecal injection of metrizamide (Amipaque) in 1 818 adult patients for various subarachnoid procedures by 21 North American clinical examiners is reported. Adequate radiographic demonstration was achieved in over 90 per cent of all procedures allowing radiologic diagnosis to be made in 99 per cent of the 1 850 examinations. The majority of adverse reactions reported were mild to moderate and transient in nature. No clinically significant changes from baseline were noted in vital signs or neurologic status. The most serious adverse reactions experienced were seizures which occurred in 0.4 per cent of patients. All the patients with adverse reactions recovered without sequelae.