Acute damage to human endothelial cells by brief exposure to contrast media in vitro.

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Abstract
Cultured endothelial cells derived from human umbilical cord veins were labeled with Na2(51Cr)O4 and exposed to pure isoiodinated contrast media or control solutions for 10 min to simulate the effects of i.v. injections of contrast media on the human endothelium. Metrizamide, iohexol, iopamidol, meglumine/Ca metrizoate (300 mg I/ml), meglumine/Na diatrizoate, meglumine/Na ioxaglate and meglumine/Ca metrizoate (200 mg I/ml) were tested. Iso-osmolal mannitol solutions were used to determine the portion of injury that was due to the effects of osmolality. Up to 6 times more 51Cr was released from the cultures following exposure to the 2 hyperosmolal ionic contrast media (meglumine/Na diatrizoate and meglumine/Ca metrizoate) than with exposure to the least toxic agent, iopamidol. The dimer ioxaglate and the 3 nonionic agents (iohexol, metrizamide and iopamidol) gave a 51Cr release rate that was almost equal to or lower than that of 0.9% saline. Follow-up of the washed cultures for 24 h showed no residual toxic effects.