Iohexol vs. ioxaglate in lower extremity angiography: a comparative randomized double-blind study in 80 patients

The aim of this study was to detect clinically relevant differences between iohexol 300 mgI/ml and ioxaglate 320 mgI/ml in lower extremity arteriography. In this randomized double-blind study, 40 patients were examined with iohexol and 40 patients with ioxaglate. Adverse events were evaluated by recording the time of onset and the duration of possible adverse events: during or immediately following the contrast medium injections, after 6 h, and after 24 h following these injections. Heat and pain were scored on visual analog scales. The amount of contrast medium and possible thromboembolic complications were noted. Image quality was evaluated. There were no significant differences in the total amounts of contrast agent administered (ioxaglate mean 121.5 ml vs. iohexol 125.1 ml), scores for heat (ioxaglate mean 6.1 vs. iohexol 6.1) and pain (both agents mean 2.35). Nausea/vomiting was noticed significantly more frequently with ioxaglate (ioxaglate seven patients vs. iohexol one patient (chi 2, P < 0.05)). Thromboembolic complications were not detected. Opacification of vessels was optimal in all patients. No clues were found indicating that one of the agents was better tolerated 6-24 h after the procedure than the other. Nausea/vomiting occurred significantly more frequent with ioxaglate; no further clinically relevant differences were detected.