EFFECTS OF THE LOW-OSMOLALITY CONTRAST-MEDIUM IOVERSOL (OPTIRAY) ON RENAL-FUNCTION IN A GERIATRIC POPULATION

Purpose: To assess the incidence of nephrotoxicity following i.v. inje ction of the iodinated low-osmolality contrast medium ioversol 300 (Op tiray) in a geriatric population compared with a control group aged un der 60 years, neither group presenting any associated risk factors. Ma terial and Methods: CT with i.v. bolus injection of ioversol 300 mg I/ ml was performed at a mean dose of 1.36+/-0.06 ml/kg (range 1-2 ml/kg b.w.) in 47 patients aged over 69 years. Serum creatinine level was me asured and creatinine clearance was calculated at 24, 48 and 72 h afte r the examination, and compared to a reference serum creatinine value taken before CT. The findings were compared with a control group of 44 patients aged under 60 years. Results: No significant increase in ser um creatinine (+0.6 mmol/l) or in creatinine clearance (+0.7 ml/min) w as found during the course of 3 days after the injection. Only one pat ient (aged 82) presented an increase of 25% in serum creatinine (109 m moY1). Conclusion: The trial did not demonstrate any significant diffe rence between the 2 groups, although the elderly patients had a subcli nical renal impairment revealed by the decrease of the initial creatin ine clearance. The use of low-osmolality ioversol makes it possible to perform examination with an iodinated contrast agent without increasi ng the incidence of nephrotoxicity in elderly subjects.