Effect of arterial cannulation and contrast agents on blood coagulation.
OBJECTIVE
Nonionic contrast media have been considered by some to have thrombogenic properties. We prospectively assessed the effect of femoral artery catheterization and both nonionic and ionic contrast media on the coagulation parameters--fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2) and fibrinopeptide A (FpA)--during clinical angiography.


METHODS
Seventeen patients undergoing aortography were included. Blood samples were obtained before and after arterial puncture and before and up to 30 min after contrast administration.


RESULTS
An increase in FpA was observed after arterial puncture (range = 8.4 +/- 1.9 to 13.6 +/- 2.3 ng/ml, p < .004; data are written as mean +/- standard error of the mean). There was an observed increase in F1 + 2 after arterial puncture that was not statistically significant (2.0 +/- 0.4 to 2.3 +/- 0.4 nmol/l). No further increase was observed in either FpA or F1 + 2 levels after nonionic or ionic contrast media administration.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased activity of the coagulation system during angiography is related to the arterial puncture, and nonionic and ionic contrast media have no thrombogenic potential in vivo.
Cousins
C
C
Department of Radiology, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England.
Dutka
D P
DP
Bradshaw
A
A
Dawson
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001027:Aortography; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011516:Prothrombin / Q000378:metabolism; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D003287:Contrast Media; D005344:Fibrinopeptide A; D011516:Prothrombin