Assessment of the safety and efficacy of iobitridol, an iodinated contrast medium (30% iodine), in cranial CT

Comparison of Safety and Diagnostic Efficacy of Iohexol 240 mgI/mL, Iopamidol 250 mgI/mL, and Iodixanol 270 mgI/mL in Cerebral Angiography: A Prospective, Multicenter Study

PURPOSE

This multicenter prospective study aimed to evaluate the quality and diagnostic effectiveness of cerebral angiography images obtained using low-concentration iodinated contrast agents (iohexol 240 mgI/mL, iopamidol 250 mgI/mL, and iodixanol 270 mgI/mL) and to assess the safety thereof. The study addresses the need for safer contrast agent alternatives without compromising the diagnostic quality of identifying cerebrovascular disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Conducted in 5 medical centers in South Korea, we enrolled patients aged 19 years or older who were referred for diagnostic cerebral angiography under non-emergency conditions, excluding those with specific health conditions and sensitivities. The study design included a prospective, observational approach with a 1-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for sample size calculation, aiming for a total sample of 231 participants for adequate power. Image quality was evaluated using a 4-level scale by 2 independent, blinded radiologists, and adverse reactions were monitored both immediately and up to 7 days post-procedure. Statistical analysis involved 1-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests to assess the image quality and safety profiles of the contrast agents.

RESULTS

Among 266 patients screened, 243 were included in the final analysis. The evaluation revealed no statistically significant differences in image quality among the 3 types of low-concentration contrast agents. Adverse events were observed in 28.8% of patients, with 27.2% experiencing acute reactions, primarily mild reactions, and 3.3% experiencing delayed reactions. The overall safety profile showed no significant changes in vital signs or electrocardiogram readings before and after contrast agent injection.

CONCLUSION

Using low-concentration iodinated contrast agents for cerebral angiography provides image quality comparable to that of conventional high-concentration agents, with no significant increase in adverse events, suggesting a safer alternative for patients.

Safety and tolerability of iobitridol in cerebral angiography: a prospective, multicenter study

Background

To date, only a few data have demonstrated the safety of iodinated contrast media for cerebral angiography.

Purpose

To assess contrast-related adverse events after cerebral angiography using iobitridol.

Material and Methods

A total of 790 patients who underwent cerebral angiography at three tertiary hospitals in the Republic of Korea between November 2017 and October 2018 were prospectively enrolled in this study. We interviewed all patients and recorded their symptoms before they left the interventional clinic after the angiography procedure and during the seven-day follow-up visit. The primary endpoints were acute (within 1 h) and delayed (1 h–7 days) adverse events associated with iobitridol injection. We also visually graded the radiographic density and image quality as secondary endpoints.

Results

Acute adverse events were more common than delayed adverse events. Most adverse events were either mild (96.5%) or moderate (3.45%). Among the contrast-related adverse events, feeling of warmth (59.1%) and altered taste (17.5%) were the most common acute events, whereas headache (41.9%) and allergic skin reactions (20.0%) were the most common delayed events. All cerebral angiography showed optimal density and good/excellent image quality.

Conclusion

The findings of this study suggest that iobitridol is a safe and effective iodinated contrast medium for use in cerebral angiography.

A general MRI-CEST ratiometric approach for pH imaging: demonstration of in vivo pH mapping with iobitridol

Chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST) is a novel contrast mechanism for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). CEST MRI selectively saturates exchangeable protons that are transferred to MRI-detectable bulk water signal. MRI-CEST (pH)-responsive agents are probes able to map pH in the microenvironment in which they distribute. To minimize the confounding effects of contrast agent concentration, researchers have developed ratiometric CEST imaging, which investigates contrast agents containing multiple magnetically non-equivalent proton groups, whose prototropic exchange have different pH responses. However, conventional ratiometric CEST MRI imposes stringent requirements on the selection of CEST contrasts agents. In this study, a novel ratiometric pH MRI method based on the analysis of CEST effects under different radio frequency irradiation power levels was developed. The proposed method has been demonstrated using iobitridol, an X-ray contrast agent analog of iopamidol but containing a single set of amide protons, both in vitro and in vivo.

Results of the safety and efficacy of iobitridol in more than 61,000 patients

We present results of a postmarketing surveillance study with iobitridol (Xenetix, Sulzbach, Germany) in more than 61,000 patients from 1996 until 2000. The purpose of this study was the assessment of safety and diagnostic efficacy of the non-ionic contrast agent iobitridol in the setting of a post-marketing surveillance study. Iobitridol (Xenetix) has been registered in Germany since 1996. Between 1996 and 2000 207 radiologists have documented in a questionnaire the routine use of Xenetix in 61,754 patients that have received Xenetix for diagnostic procedures. On each questionnaire parameters regarding demographic data, safety, and diagnostic efficacy were assessed. The data were statistically evaluated and analysed. The examination allowed for a diagnosis in 99% of cases. Image quality was rated as "excellent" or "good" in 89.8% of cases. In obese patients there was a significantly higher percentage ( p<0.001) of poor image quality. In 0.1% poor contrast was noted. Of patients, 28.8% had at least one risk factor, and 3.1% had three or more. Adverse events were noted in 2.3% of the examinations, but nearly half of them (1.1%) presented with "feeling of warmth" as the only symptom. Of adverse events, 0.2% were non-transient, and 1 patient died. In 0.2% of patients the procedure was stopped due to adverse events. In 0.9% of patients the causal relationship with the contrast agent was rated as probable (probable+possible=1.1%). The percentage of adverse events (excluding warmth) was independent of iodine concentration and of dose, and was higher in young patients. Xenetix is an efficient contrast agent for radiological procedures and is associated with a low rate of adverse events.