Pharmacokinetics of iohexol, iopamidol, iopromide, and iosimide compared with meglumine diatrizoate.

Four nonionic contrast media (iohexol, iopamidol, iopromide, and iosimide) are compared in this clinical study in their pharmacokinetic behavior with an ionic reference preparation (meglumine diatrizoate). At a dose of 1 ml of contrast medium per kilogram of body weight with approximately the same iodine content, virtually no differences could be established in the pharmacokinetic behavior. The osmotic diuresis of the ionic substance, compared with that of the nonionic preparations--implies an increased osmotic diuresis, thus, a lower maximal iodine concentration in the urine. The elderly patients included in this study have a reduced glomerular filtration rate, which in turn implies a prolonged half-life in the blood and a retarded renal elimination.