IODIXANOL IN INTRAARTERIAL CEREBRAL DIGITAL SUBTRACTION ANGIOGRAPHY -A COMPARISON WITH IOHEXOL

We randomised 86 patients undergoing intra-arterial cerebral digital s ubtraction angiography (IADSA) to receive iodixanol (Visipaque; Nycome d, Oslo, Norway) 150 mgI/ml or iohexol (Omnipaque; Nycomed) 140 mgI/ml . The efficacy and safety of these two contrast media were compared: e fficacy by evaluating the diagnostic information and radiographic dens ity yielded by the angiograms, safety by recording all discomfort conn ected with the injections, and all adverse events up to 24 h after the investigation. Diagnostic information was optimal in all patients and the overall radiographic density optimal in all but one (iohexol) (P = 0.49). A feeling of warmth, the only discomfort reported, was experi enced by 43 % and 54 % of patients receiving iodixanol and iohexol, re spectively (P = 0.26). Two patients in the iodixanol group and five in the iohexol group reported one adverse event (nausea, dizziness, visu al disturbance or paraesthesiae) (P = 0.30); all were of mild severity except for one moderate adverse event in each group. Iodixanol 150 mg I/ml and iohexol 140 mgI/ml were demonstrated to be suitable for IADSA , with no clinically or statistically significant differences in effic acy, discomfort or adverse events.