title: Comparison of iohexol with barium in gastrointestinal studies of infants and children.
abstract: This study evaluates iohexol as a contrast agent in the gastrointestinal tract in children. In the first part of the study, iohexol in concentrations of 180 and 300 mg l/ml was compared in double-blind manner with barium. Sixty-four patients were studied. No significant difference in changes of blood pressure and pulse rate was found between the three groups of patients studied. Diarrhea was significantly more common in the children receiving iohexol than in children receiving barium. The diarrhea was not due to previously identified high-risk factors in the children, nor was it due to concurrent medication. When image quality was assessed in each anatomic region of the gastrointestinal tract, fewer nondiagnostic ratings occurred with barium than with iohexol. With barium, fewer ratings of poor mucosal coating and slightly fewer ratings of suboptimal contrast density occurred. The second part of the study was an open evaluation of iohexol 180 mg l/ml in 18 patients in whom barium was clinically contraindicated. Three of 53 assessments were nondiagnostic. Mucosal coating was poor in 6%, and contrast density was suboptimal in 8% of patients. The results of this study indicate that barium is the preferred contrast agent for routine evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in children. Good-quality images can be obtained, however, with iohexol in concentrations of 180 or 300 mg l/ml, and iohexol is an excellent contrast agent for evaluation of the gastrointestinal tract in those patients in whom barium is relatively or absolutely contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Indiana University Medical Center, Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis 46202-5200.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Towbin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Eggleston
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kehler
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Cory
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001466:Barium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004064:Digestive System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007472:Iohexol / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011859:Radiography
chemical_list: D001466:Barium Sulfate; D007472:Iohexol