Controlled, double-blind study of iosimide, a new, nonionic, monomeric contrast medium, and ioxaglate in cerebral angiography.

Iosimide is a new synthetic, nonionic, monomeric contrast medium in which a new substance, triiodine-trimesine acid, is used. It has definite advantages compared with the basic substances used in the past, diaminobenzoic acid and monoaminoisophthalic acid. Due to the high stability, the possibility of the formation of toxicologically questionable, free nuclei amino compounds disappears. Only the slightest probability of a cross-reaction with present antibodies exists, because of the low frequency in the environment. On the basis of the hydrophilic structure of the side chains, there is only a slight chemotoxicity. In a controlled, double-blind study on 100 randomized patients iosimide was tested in cerebral angiography against ioxaglate. Ioxaglate is an ionic contrast medium, popular because of its low osmolality. In this study iosimide exhibited no differences in comparison with ioxaglate with respect to the contrast, the neurological status or the liver or renal tolerance. In examining cardiovascular tolerance there is only a slight tendency toward liver changes with iosimide. Examination of the general tolerance, however, shows a statistically significant lower incidence of sensation of heat and pain with iosimide than with ioxaglate.