Background The use of iodinated contrast medium can result in nephropathy. Whether iso-
osmolar contrast medium is less nephrotoxic than low-osmolar contrast medium in high-risk
patients is uncertain. Methods We conducted a randomized, double-blind, prospective,
multicenter study comparing the nephrotoxic effects of an iso-osmolar, dimeric, nonionic
contrast medium, iodixanol, with those of a low-osmolar, nonionic, monomeric contrast
medium, iohexol. The study involved 129 patients with diabetes with serum creatinine …

Nephropathy induced by low osmolar contrast medium is not a frequent occurrence in the
general population, but the risk of this complication is considerably higher in patients with
renal impairment and/or diabetes. Iodixanol, an iso-osmolar, dimeric, nonionic contrast
medium has a lower level of toxicity than low osmolar contrast mediums. In a prospective
study of patients at high risk for the development of nephropathy, the nephrotoxicity of
iodixanol was compared with that of iohexol, a low osmolar, nonionic, monomeric contrast …