Preliminary studies on in vitro and in vivo effects of 50 per cent hypaque on coagulation in man

Contrast media for angiography: physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetics and biocompatibility

Contrast agents are used as diagnostic molecules for the visualization of the vascular system. Despite their rapid pharmacokinetic distribution, and their excretion within a few minutes, their injection is associated with clinical symptoms of relative bioincompatibility. Allergoid reactions and disturbances of the hemostatic system represent the main fields of biological investigations. Due to the extent of clinical and experimental works the ubiquitous interactions between these molecules and cellular and/or protein systems have emerged. The development of a new family of low osmolality ionic or non-ionic contrast molecules had decreased the incidence of minor reactions, but did not modify the frequency of severe accidents and even led to the emergence of new iatrogenic syndromes. Despite extensive laboratory investigations there are still no predictive criteria nor any specific therapeutic prevention of these allergoid reactions. The suggested future line of investigation concerns the physicochemical interaction of CM and targeted biological systems which may allow the analysis and predictivity of these interactions at the molecular level.

In vitro study of the inhibition of coagulation induced by different radiocontrast molecules

The anticoagulant activity of seven intravascular radiocontrast molecules (RCM) was evaluated in different in vitro systems using citrated human plasma. Each RCM was tested in a concentration range of 5 to 50 mM. The thrombin time and the reptilase time showed a dose-dependent lengthening of fibrinoformation, the recording of fibrinoformation exhibited a significant delay of fibrin monomer generation and polymerization although the amplitude of the fibrinoformation was not decreased. The interfering effect with fibrin clot formation impairs also global coagulation tests and monospecific coagulation tests using fibrinoformation as the final step of the assay, but a possible interaction between RCM and some specific coagulation factors cannot be excluded. RCM potentiated the anti-thrombin action of heparin but the inhibition or delay of fibrinoformation is not related to an antithrombinic effect of contrast media. The thrombin amidolytic activity is not modified by RCM but the generation of FpA is delayed and decreased. The ultrastructure of the fibrin clot is not altered at the end of the polymerization.