Preclinical findings with iotrolan: a short review

Iotrolan is a non-ionic hexa-iodinated dimeric contrast agent suitable for Ct enhancement, angiography, urography and the opacofocation of body cavities. It is more hydrophilic than any other X-ray contrast agent and is sweet to tast. Iotrolan 280 is isotnoc to blood and its pharmacokinetics are almost identical to other urographic contrast agents. The experiments reported in this review show very little protein binding, enzyme inhibition or injury to membranes of human erythrocytes, rat mast cells or cultured human enfothelial cells. Osmotically induced side effects, such as vascular pain, endothelial damage, disturbance of the blood-brain barner, vaso-contruction and hemodilution are greatly reduced or absent. In various studies in rats and dogs, the mechanical and electrical function of the heart and myocardial perfusion remained almost unaffected. In rats, renal tolerance of iotrolan was superior to that of a non-ionic monomer when the contrast agents were-infused into the renal arteries. The renal tolerance after intravenous injection depends on the anomal species and experimental conditions, with favorable results in most cases. The intravenous, LD 50 is very high and seems to be restricted more by physical overload of the animals tahn b osmotic or chemotoxic effects. Due to reduced osmotic diultion the contrast efficacy is slightly better than higher osmolality agents.