RANDOMIZED DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL OF THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF 2 GADOLINIUM COMPLEXES (GD-DTPA AND GD-DOTA)

The main difference between macrocyclic Gd-DOTA and linear Gd-DTPA com plexes is the greater stability of the former which theoretically migh t reduce biological interactions in man. To evaluate the clinical rele vance of this property, 300 unselected neurological patients were incl uded in a randomised double-blind comparison involving five European c entres, focused mainly on the tolerance of these two contrast media. C linical tolerance was assessed immediatley after the procedure and 24 h later. Adverse events were found with a similar frequency in the two groups (17.3 % for Gd-DOTA and 19.3 % for Gd-DTPA). Minor neurologica l symptoms were the most frequent (48.6 %) headache being the most com mon (29.2 % of adverse events). No difference in efficacy was found.