New Cardiovascular Contrast Media: Sodium Iothalamate (AngioConray) and Methylglucamine Iothalamate (Conray)

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Abstract
1. Two new radio-opaque intravascular contrast media are described. These are the sodium and the methylglucamine salts of iothalamic acid, which is an isomer of diatrizoic acid. 2. The 80 per cent solution of sodium iothalamate (Angio-Conray) is crystal clear even at 0°C, has a low viscosity and a high iodine content. Experimental studies indicate that a higher injection rate of iodine can be achieved with AngioConray 80% than with previously available media. This has resulted in a considerable improvement of the radiographic quality of hand-injected catheter and needle aortographic quality of hand-injected catheter and needle aortographic studies. There has been a lesser but appreciable improvement in angiocardiographic studies employing high pressure injections through small bore catheters. 3. The toxic reactions encountered in 214 angiocardiographic and aortographic injections of AngioConray 80% are described. 4. A small pilot series including 124 carotid, 48 femoral arteriograms and 50 lumbar aortograms using methylglucamine iothalamate 60% (Conray) is reported. 5. The literature concerning the experimental and clinical toxicity of these two new contrast media is reviewed and compared with that of other media. 6. It is considered that, because of their low clinical and experimental toxicity and because of their excellent physico-chemical and radiographic properties, sodium iothalamate 80% (AngioConray) and methylglucamine iothalamate 60% (Conray) are promising radiological contrast media. Angio-Conray should be particularly valuable for cardiovascular visualisation, and long-term clinical evaluation is well merited.