American Journal of Neuroradiology, Vol 6, Issue 6 931-933, Copyright © 1985 by American Society of Neuroradiology
ARTICLES |
Iohexol vs. metrizamide: study of efficacy and morbidity in cervical myelography
RE Latchaw, WL Hirsch Jr, JA Horton, D Bissonette and DD Shaw
A double-blind study was conducted in 60 patients undergoing either cervical or more complete myelography via C1-C2 puncture. Patients received either iohexol or metrizamide at a 300 mg l/ml concentration. The contrast media were equally efficacious in the production of high- quality radiographs and CT scans. However, the incidence of adverse reactions differed markedly. Of patients receiving metrizamide, 68% had some type of adverse reaction, whereas only 26% receiving iohexol had symptoms. The incidence of headache (metrizamide, 34%; iohexol, 26%) was not statistically different, but the quality of the headache differed: half of the metrizamide headaches were moderate or severe, whereas all iohexol headaches were mild. Nausea (31%) and vomiting (28%) were common with metrizamide but unusual (3% nausea) with iohexol. Of the metrizamide patients, 21% had overt psychologic changes that did not occur in the iohexol group.