[Cardiac complications of intravenous digital angiography. Comparison of ionic and nonionic contrast media]

The review of 1405 digital intravenous subtraction angiographies carried out in the period may 1982-february 1985 showed in about 2% of the cases cardiac symptoms, which arose during or after the examination. In the great majority of the cases the symptomatology was characterized by angina pectoris. In order to better understand these data and analysing the results of the literature, a trial has been performed in 100 patients who underwent DSA. They have been divided into two groups in which two different contrast media, ionic (sodium meglumine diatrizoate) and non ionic (iopamidol) have been randomly injected. A detailed cardiologic anamnesis has been collected and EKG has been performed before and after each injection with pre-established gaps. The results showed that the incidence of cardiac symptoms and EKG variations is lesser with the non ionic contrast medium: therefore this agent is to be preferred at least in patients at risk from cardiologic point of view.