ACUTE CARDIOTOXICITY OF GADOLINIUM-BASED CONTRAST-MEDIA - FINDINGS INTHE ISOLATED RAT-HEART

Rationale and Objectives. The study was designed to compare acute and direct cardiotoxicity of gadopentetate dimeglumine, gadoteridol inject ion, and gadodiamide injection. Methods. Two consecutive injections of contrast material (0.3 and 1.5 mmol/kg body weight) were given to spo ntaneously beating, isolated rat hearts. Cardiac function was assessed by measuring left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), perfusion pr essure, and electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters. Results. Gadopentet ate dimeglumine decreased LVDP, and its first derivatives (+/-dP/dt(ma x)) substantially more than gadodiamide injection. Gadoteridol increas ed these variables. PR and RT intervals lengthened after 1.5 mmol/kg g adopentetate dimeglumine and gadoteridol injection. Bradycardia and ve ntricular tachyarrhythmias were seen after injection of 1.5 mmol/kg ga dopentetate dimeglumine. Except for isolated ventricular premature bea ts, gadodiamide injection and gadoteridol injection did not provoke an y serious arrhythmia. Conclusion. Gadopentetate dimeglumine induced ne gative inotropy and more pronounced ECG disturbances. Gadoteridol inje ction and gadodiamide injection induced only small changes in left ven tricular inotropy and minor electrophysiologic effects.