Acute damage to human endothelial cells by brief exposure to contrast media in vitro

Cultured endothelial cells derived from human umbilical cord veins were labeled with Na2 (51Cr)O4 and exposed to pure isoiodinated contrast media or control solutions for 10 minutes to simulate the effects of intravenous injections of contrast media on the human endothelium. Metrizamide, iohexol, iopamidol, meglumine/Ca metrizoate (300 mg I/ml), meglumine/Na diatrizoate, meglumine/Na ioxaglate, and meglumine/Ca metrizoate (200 mg I/ml) were tested. Iso-osmolal mannitol solutions were used to determine the portion of injury that was due to the effects of osmolality. Up to six times more chromium-51 was released from the cultures following exposure to the two hyperosmolal ionic contrast media (meglumine/Na diatrizoate and meglumine/Ca metrizoate) than with exposure to the least toxic agent, iopamidol. The dimer ioxaglate and the three nonionic agents (iohexol, metrizamide, and iopamidol) gave a chromium-51 release rate that was almost equal to or lower than that of 0.9% saline. Follow-up of the washed cultures for 24 hours showed no residual toxic effects.