Short-term hemodynamic effects of diatrizoate and ioxaglate contrast media in left ventriculography

Short-term effects in left ventricular performance induced by two contrast media (low osmolar ioxaglate and high osmolar diatrizoate) were evaluated in 24 and 26 patients, respectively. In both groups a diagnosis of valvular heart disease with or without left ventricular disease had been made by noninvasive methods. Changes of hemodynamic data were evaluated in intervals of 20 sec for one min after left ventricular cineangiography. Heart rate increased following injection of both contrast media but was greater with diatrizoate for 20-60 sec (P less than 0.01). A difference in left ventricular systolic pressure was found during 0-60 sec (P less than 0.01), with a decrease in peak left ventricular systolic pressure using diatrizoate (P less than 0.01). In 16 patients without valvular insufficiency, the positive inotropic effect as shown by maximum positive left ventricular pressure slope was more pronounced for diatrizoate during the period of 40-60 sec (P less than 0.05). A decrease in left ventricle relaxation as shown by an increase in the time constant of pressure decay was found for both contrast media. There was no significant difference in relaxation time constant between the two contrast media. During the period of 20-40 sec, the increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was more pronounced for ioxaglate (P less than 0.01) with no untoward consequences in our population of patients.