title: Effects of radiographic contrast media on leukocyte phagocytosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Differences in leukocyte phagocytosis following exposure to different classes of radiographic contrast media (RCM) may help in the development of less toxic alternatives and be useful as a guide to contrast selection in certain patient groups. The effect of RCM on leukocyte phagocytosis of Escherichia coli was examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cell population phagocytosis and individual cell phagocytic activity were assessed in a control group and in samples exposed both to the ionic RCM diatrizoate and ioxaglate and to the nonionic RCM iohexol and iotrolan by using a flow cytometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The percentage of granulocytes undergoing phagocytosis was 88.4% in the control population. Following exposure to RCM, this value fell to 79.2% with iohexol, 77.6% with iotrolan, 70.5% with diatrizoate, and 68.7% with ioxaglate. The number of bacteria phagocytosed by active leukocytes was not affected by RCM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RCM adversely affect the percentage of granulocytes involved in phagocytosis but not the number of pathogenic bacteria that are phagocytosed by individual granulocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiodiagnosis, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, England.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Farrow
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Roobottom
authors.forename: I P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hurlock
mesh_terms: D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003973:Diatrizoate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol / Q000494:pharmacology; D007485:Ioxaglic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; D003973:Diatrizoate; C033300:iotrolan; D007472:Iohexol; D007485:Ioxaglic Acid