Gadodiamide as an alternative contrast agent during angioplasty in patients with contraindications to iodinated media.

PURPOSE: To evaluate gadodiamide as an alternative contrast agent for peripheral and renal angioplasty in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast media.

METHODS

Seventeen patients (10 men; mean age 74 years, range 68-83) with contraindication to iodinated contrast media were given gadodiamide as the contrast agent during peripheral and renal intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and subsequent percutaneous interventions (balloon angioplasty, stent placement).

RESULTS

The mean volume of gadodiamide used was 136 +/- 46 mL (range 60-200). No serious side effects were observed, especially no change in renal or thyroid function; no exanthema or other allergic reactions were noted. In patients without renal artery intervention, serum creatinine at discharge remained unchanged (2.57 +/- 1.43 mg/dL to 2.40 +/- 1.28 mg/dL, p=NS). In patients undergoing angioplasty/stenting of renal artery stenoses, serum creatinine decreased significantly from 3.53 +/- 1.75 mg/dL to 2.36 +/- 1.15 mg/dL (p<0.01). All but 1 intervention was successful. Using a simple scoring system, 2 judges blinded to the contrast agent graded the quality of the peripheral DSAs as "good," whereas renal DSA images were only "sufficient."

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with contraindications to iodinated materials, gadodiamide may be a suitable alternative for renal or peripheral DSA followed by angioplasty.