Risk of thrombogenicity among nonionic radiocontrast agents
Georgakis, A.; Ener, R.A.; Jin, J.; Kunapuli, S.; Fiss, D.; Leech, S.H.; Wolf, N.M.; Van Decker, W.A.
Journal of Invasive Cardiology 20(7): 349-353
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1557-2501 PMID: 18599893 Document Number: 621402
Several contrast agents have been approved in the United States for radiographic imaging purposes. Most of the older ionic, high-osmolar contrast agents are no longer used because of their side effect profile. Therefore, newer nonionic, low or iso-osmolar contrast agents have been widely accepted as an alternative due to their improved tolerability and safety. We investigated the thrombogenicity of the 6 different nonionic radiocontrast media in terms of their platelet reactivity and noted some minor differences among them. In the 50% contrast concentration group, all of the nonionic contrast agents inhibited aggregation, whereas in the 10% contrast concentration group, all agents showed similar aggregation curves in comparison to the normal control. At 50% contrast concentration, the inhibitory effect of aggregation appeared to be related to the inhibition of calcium mobilization, which may be one of the mechanistic effects.