Iopentol in patients with chronic renal failure : its effects on renal function and its use as glomerular filtration rate parameter

Iopentol (mean dose 0.42 g I kg−1) was administered for abdominal aortography and pelvic angiography in 10 patients with advanced non-diabetic chronic renal failure (S-creatinine 672±259 μmol l−1, mean±SD). Renal glomerular function measured as creatinine clearance and plasma clearance of [99Tcm]-diethyl-enetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) was unchanged by iopentol, as also was urinary excretion of the renal tubular enzymes N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). The elimination of iopentol from serum and urine was delayed, and detectable serum and urine concentrations were found 5 days after administration of the contrast medium. Creatine clearance was 47% higher than the corresponding renal iopentol clearance. Plasma iopentol clearance, measured as the total area under the plasma concentration curve, was 40% higher than renal iopentol clearance because of extrarenal elimination of iopentol. We conclude that abdominal aortography with iopentol can be performed without effects on r...