Ioglycamide (Biligram) studies in man--relation between plasma concentration and billary excretion

Plasma ioglycamide concentration was linearly related to the rate of intravenous infusion over a dose range of from 1 to 4 mg per kg per min. The relation between plasma and biliary concentration of ioglycamide was studied in 15 anicteric patients with a T-tube in situ. Peak biliary concentrations and excretory rates of ioglycamide were seen when the plasma concentration was greater than 1500 micrograms per ml. The mean biliary transport maximum (Tm) for ioglycamide in man was 31.6 mg/min (range 22.0-40.4). The results suggest that near optimal concentrations of iodine in the bile duct can be obtained during intravenous cholangiography if ioglycamide is infused for one hour at a rate of about 4 mg per kg per min.