Brain penetration of intrathecal iomeprol in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
Iomeprol, a new nonionic iodinated compound for intravascular use, is being evaluated as a myelographic contrast agent because of its low neurotoxicity. This study aimed to assess the degree of brain penetration of iomeprol after intrathecal administration.


METHODS
Brain penetration in dogs was investigated by CT and compared with that of iopamidol, iohexol, and ioversol, currently used as myelographic contrast media (CM). Nervous tissue density was determined in different brain structures by recording Hounsfield values.


RESULTS
The experiments revealed that CM diffused from the cisternae into the parenchyma, reaching a maximum at 5-24 h after injection. The density of the examined brain regions was still higher than the preinjection levels 24 h later. No differences in brain penetration were observed among the CM investigated.


CONCLUSIONS
The study has shown that iomeprol penetrates into the brain to the same extent as the most widely used myelographic CM.
La Noce
A
A
Research Center, Bracco SpA, Milan, Italy.
Lorenzon
P
P
Pugliese
F
F
Pellecchi
G
G
Orlandini
I
I
Tirone
P
P
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000378:metabolism; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007278:Injections, Spinal; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics
D003287:Contrast Media; C057937:iomeprol; D007479:Iopamidol