Impact of iodine concentration and iodine delivery rate on contrast enhancement in coronary CT angiography: a randomized multicenter trial (CT-CON)

Marco Rengo, Anoeshka Dharampal, Marisa Lubbers, Marc Kock, Joachim E. Wildberger, Marco Das, Andre Niezen, Fiek van Tilborg, Marcel Kofflard, Andrea Laghi, Gabriel Krestin, Koen Nieman*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective To compare the effect of contrast medium iodine concentration on contrast enhancement, heart rate, and injection pressure when injected at a constant iodine delivery rate in coronary CT angiography (CTA). Methods One thousand twenty-four patients scheduled for coronary CTA were prospectively randomized to receive one of four contrast media: iopromide 300 mg I/ml, iohexol 350 mg I/ml, iopromide 370 mg I/ml, or iomeprol 400 mg I/ml. Contrast media were delivered at an equivalent iodine delivery rate of 2.0 g I/s. Intracoronary attenuation was measured and compared (per vessel and per segment). Heart rate before and after contrast media injection was documented. Injection pressure was recorded (n = 403) during contrast medium injection and compared between groups. Results Intracoronary attenuation values were similar for the different contrast groups. The mean attenuation over all segments ranged between 384 HU for 350 mg I/ml and 395 HU for 400 mg I/ml (p = 0.079). Dose-length product (p = 0.8424), signal-to-noise ratio (all p > 0.05), time to peak (p = 0.324), and changes in heart rate (p = 0.974) were comparable between groups. The peak pressures differed: 197.4 psi for 300 mg I/ml (viscosity 4.6 mPa s), 229.8 psi for 350 mg I/ml (10.4 mPa s), 216.1 psi for 370 mg I/ml (9.5 mPa s), and 243.7 psi for 400 mg I/ml (12.6 mPa s) (p <0.0001). Conclusion Intravascular attenuation and changes in heart rate are independent of iodine concentration when contrast media are injected at the same iodine delivery rate. Differences in injection pressures are associated with the viscosity of the contrast media.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6109-6118
Number of pages10
JournalEuropean Radiology
Volume29
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2019

Keywords

  • Contrast media
  • Computed tomography angiography
  • Coronary disease
  • Randomized controlled trial
  • COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC ANGIOGRAPHY
  • HEART-RATE-VARIATION
  • MEDIA CONCENTRATIONS
  • OPACIFICATION
  • INJECTION
  • OSMOLAR

Cite this