Risk of thrombosis during coronary angloplasty with low-osmolality contrast media

This paper investigates the incidence of coronary thrombus during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), comparing two types of low-osmolality contrast media (ioxaglate vs iohexol). One hundred patients undergoing PTCA were randomized to ioxaglate (n = 50) or iohexol (n = 50). Thrombus was noted on the angiogram and on the guide wire. The authors analyzed 40 variables (four clinical, 21 angiographic, and 15 procedural) without any statistically significant difference. Angiographic evidence of thrombus was seen in one patient (2%) with ioxaglate and in 11 patients (22%) with iohexol ( P < .0056). One patient (2%) with ioxaglate and six (12%) with iohexol showed thrombotic residues on the guide wire (not significant [NS]). There were three acute myocardial infarctions (one with ioxaglate and two with iohexol, P = [NS]) and no deaths