Iohexol in coronary angiography. A comparison of ionic and non-ionic contrast media

Iohexol (350 mg I/ml) has been compared with meglumine-Na-Ca metrizoate (370 mg I/ml) in selective coronary angiography in 37 adult patients. Iohexol was very well tolerated and resulted in only minor changes in blood pressure and ECG parameters. Changes in blood pressure and R-R interval were significantly more marked following injections of metrizoate than after injections of iohexol. Arrhythmias were not observed following injections of iohexol, while two patients had AV block II after injection of metrizoate. Both contrast media gave similar and adequate demonstration of the coronary vessels. The findings suggest that iohexol has distinct advantages over metrizoate in selective coronary angiography.