IODIXANOL IN PEDIATRIC EXCRETORY UROGRAPHY - EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY COMPARED TO IOHEXOL

Background. Iodixanol (Visipaque, Nycomed Imaging AS, Oslo, Norway) is a now non-ionic and isotonic X-ray contrast medium. Objective. To ass ess its safety and efficacy for paediatric excretory urography. Materi als and methods. A three-centre trial in which 72 patients were random ised into three parallel groups: iodixanol 270 mgI/ml, iodixanol 320 m gI/ml and iohexol 300 mgI/ml (Omnipaque, Nycomed Imaging, Oslo, Norway ), Doses ranging from 1 to 3 ml/kg never exceeded 50 ml. Pulse rate an d blood pressure were recorded before, during, and after the examinati on, Adverse events, including injection associated discomfort, were re corded during and up to 24 h after the examination, The diagnostic qua lity of the urograms was assessed on a four-level scale. Results. No s erious adverse event occurred in any of the three groups, One patient who was given iodixanol 270 mgI/ml, three who received iodixanol 320 m gI/ml, and one who received iohexol 300 mgI/ml experienced transient a dverse events. More than 80 % of the urograms in all three groups were rated ''good'' or ''excellent'' Conclusion. Iodixanol, either 270 mgI /ml or 320 mgI/ml, is well tolerated and efficacious for excretory uro graphy in children.