Prospective evaluation of pulmonary artery pressures during pulmonary angiography performed with low-osmolar nonionic contrast media.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of pulmonary angiography performed with low-osmolar, nonionic contrast media on pulmonary artery pressures.


METHODS
In a prospective, uncontrolled clinical trial, pulmonary artery pressures (systolic, diastolic, mean) of 116 patients referred for pulmonary angiography were recorded before and 1 and 5 minutes after injection of contrast material.


RESULTS
There was a statistically significant rise in systolic, diastolic, and mean pulmonary artery pressure at 1 minute (4.6, 3.4, 4.1 mm Hg, respectively) and 5 minutes (3.8, 2.7, 3.4 mm Hg, respectively) after the initial contrast material injection (P < .05). Increases were smaller with additional injections. Systolic pressure changes at 1 and 5 minutes after the first injection were linearly dependent on the volume of contrast material injected (P < .05). There was no statistically significant difference in the increase in pulmonary artery pressure between patients with pulmonary embolus or pulmonary arterial hypertension and those without.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a small but statistically significant rise in pulmonary artery pressure after injection of low-osmolar, nonionic contrast material for pulmonary angiography; it is unlikely to be of clinical significance.
Smith
T P
TP
Department of Radiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Lee
V S
VS
Hudson
E R
ER
Newman
G E
GE
Payne
C S
CS
Suhocki
P V
PV
McDermott
V G
VG
Stackhouse
D J
DJ
D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000503:physiopathology; D007479:Iopamidol / Q000737:chemistry; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology
D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol