[Visipaque: a step on the way to an ideal contrast medium]

To study tolerance of two nonionic X-ray contrasting agents Omnipaque and the iso-osmolar dimer Visipaque, changes in central hemodynamic, myocardial electrophysiological, renal nitrogen-excretory parameters were studied in 50 patients undergoing coronary angiography and ventriculography. The two contrasting agents were found to provide slight negative side effects; however, Visipaque showed better subjective tolerance and less frequently caused adverse reactions and complications. The beneficial properties of Visipaque allows the authors to recommend that it should be used in angiographic studies in high-risk patients.