Influence of Iodixanol-270 and Iopentol-150 on the microcirculation in man: influence of viscosity on capillary perfusion.
PURPOSE, MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of direct intraarterial application of the contrast agents Iodixanol-270 and Iopentol-150 on the capillary perfusion. This was accomplished through continuous recording of the capillary perfusion in the nailfold capillaries of the right hand before and after a bolus injection of 20 ml of contrast agent into the right axillary artery.


RESULTS
After injecting 20 ml of Iodixanol-270, which has a high viscosity compared to the plasma viscosity, a statistically significant decrease in the erythrocyte velocity of 60.8% from 0.439+/-0.273 mm/s to 0.172+/-0.090 mm/s was observed already 10 s after the injection (p = 0.0001). The decreased velocity was maintained until the end of the observation period of 6 min. In contrast to this finding, no change in the erythrocyte velocity was observed after injection of 20 ml of the low-viscous Iopentol-150 (p = 0.1508).


CONCLUSIONS
The erythrocyte velocity in cutaneous capillaries therefore strongly depends on the viscosity of the contrast agent.
Spitzer
S
S
Dresdner Institut für Herz- und Kreislaufforschung, Dresden, Germany.
Münster
W
W
Sternitzky
R
R
Bach
R
R
Jung
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D002196:Capillaries; D003287:Contrast Media / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009262:Nails / Q000098:blood supply; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology
D003287:Contrast Media; D014283:Triiodobenzoic Acids; C053571:iopentol; C044834:iodixanol