X-RAY CONTRAST-MEDIA IN CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

In coronary angiography, the only X-ray contrast media (XRCM) employed today are iodinated and water-soluble. For invasive catheter diagnostics there are ionic and nonionic XRCM available with the requisite X-ray opacity for coronary angiography. The nonionic substances introduced in the 80s are now preferred. The decisive practical factors for XRCM are X-ray opacity and biocompatibility. The quality criterion that decides whether the X-tay contrast is sufficient is the amount of iodine administered over time, and this in turn is determined by the iodine concentration and the viscosity of the contrast medium. Tolerability of a contrast medium is governed above all by its viscosity, osmolarity and ionic concentration. This is a survey of the effect of the physical properties of XRCM on the contrast medium flow achievable and of biological tolerance with respect to side effect incidence, types of side effects as well as theological and microcirculatory effects of the substances.