Isosmolar contrast media iodixanol appears to be associated with a significantly lower incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and composite cardiovascular events compared with the low-osmolar  iopromide in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing coronary angiography with or without percutaneous coronary intervention, according to a study presented during the 2008 American College of Cardiology (ACC) Scientific Sessions in Chicago.

The 208-person, prospective, randomized, double-blind, single-center study, authored by Bin Nie, MD, and colleagues from Beijing Anzhen Hospital in China, found that iodixanol  results in a significantly lower incidence of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) and composite cardiovascular events compared with iopromide in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing coronary angiography with or without PCI. Researchers also found that the image quality of the two agents does not differ.

The findings support the class 1A recommendation from the 2007 AHA/ACC guidelines for the management of patients with Unstable-Angina/Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and the AHA/ACC/SCAI 2007 Update of the Guidelines for PCI, recommending the use of isosmolar contrast in patients with chronic kidney disease who undergo coronary arteriography, according to the researchers.

GE Healthcare, which sells iodixanol under the trade name Visipaque, partly funded the study. Berlex Laboratories sells iopromide as Ultravist.