Renal angiography with iohexol and metrizoate

The nephrotoxicity of the ionic contrast medium metrizoate was compared with that of nonionic iohexol when used for renal angiography. Fifteen patients who underwent renal angiography with metrizoate and 15 with iohexol were studied. Serum creatinine level, Cr-51-EDTA clearance, and urine albumin level were recorded before and after angiography. Metrizoate affected renal function, as indicated both by a transient decrease in glomerular filtration rate and by a transient albuminuria. Renal function was unaffected by iohexol. Furthermore, iohexol produced less subjective discomfort than metrizoate. There appeared to be no difference in the quality of the angiograms obtained with the two media.