Serum biochemical response to contrast media administration in anaesthetised dogs

Nonionic-iodinated contrast (NIC) and gadolinium-based contrast (GBC) media enhance the sensitivity of CT and MRI procedures, respectively (Schultz and others 2009, Zhao and others 2010). The intravenous administration of contrast media, especially iodinated compounds, is reported to be associated with contrast-induced nephropathy, characterised by an increase in serum creatinine of 44 ∝mol/l, or by more than 25 per cent from the baseline values, within 48–72 hours (Barrett and Parfrey 2006). The aim of this prospective study, with standardised sampling collection, was to assess biochemical changes associated with the intravenous administration of NIC and GBC during routine CT and MRI in dogs, as suggested in a retrospective study by Pollard and others (2008). The study, approved by the Ethics Committee of the Universita degli Studi di Milano (authorisation number 24/11), was performed on 42 dogs (ASA 1 or 2) consecutively admitted, under informed consent, for routine CT or MRI. Dogs were allocated into three groups of 14 patients each. The NIC and the GBC groups included dogs undergoing contrast-enhanced CT, using intravenous iohexol (Omnipaque 300; GE Healthcare) or iodixanol (Visipaque 270; GE Healthcare), or MRI, using intravenous gadodiamide (Omniscan 287; GE Healthcare). The control group (CTR) included dogs undergoing CT or MRI without …