Tissue fluid shifts during renal arteriography with conventional and low osmolality agents

The osmotic effects caused by conventional and low osmolality radiopaque agents have been studied in the isolated perfused canine kidney. Changes in vein flow, hematocrit, osmolality, and iodine content were measured at injection doses of 0.25 and 0.5 ml/kg (300 mgI/ml). Increases in osmolality and decreases in hematocrit were significantly greater with the conventional ionic monomer meglumine/sodium diatrizoate than with the low osmolality agents iohexol, iopamidol, and ioxaglate. The standard renal vein flow response for all agents was an increase (loss of renal water) followed by a decrease (gain of renal water). Diatrizoate produced the greatest increase in outflow at 0.25 ml/kg, but the differences between agents were not statistically significant. At the 0.5 ml/kg dose the differences in peak renal vein flow between agents were negligible. Renal vein iodine was highest with the dimer, ioxaglate and lowest with the diatrizoate. The nonionics iohexol and iopamidol produced essentially the same renal vein iodine levels and clearance. The new low osmolality agents have significantly less effect on osmolality and hematocrit and produce higher venous iodine levels than a conventional ionic monomer. The only difference between the low osmolality agents was the higher venous iodine seen with the dimer ioxaglate.