Randomized, double-blind comparison of nonionic and ionic contrast agents in patients undergoing bolus-enhanced dynamic CT

This paper determines whether the use of a nonionic contrast agent when compared with an ionic contrast agent resulted in quicker patient CT throughput. Six hundred patients were randomized and given either Hypaque 60 or Omnipaque 300 during dynamic contrast material-enhanced body CT. Contrast material reactions and the quality of scans were recorded for each patient group. The number of studies that needed to be repeated due to an adverse reaction was recorded. Studies were adequately performed in 96.7% (292/302) of the Omnipaque group and 94% (280/298) of the Hypaque group. Images needed to be repeated due to movement during the contrast material injection or the CT study was aborted due to a contrast material-related reaction in 0.7% of the Omnipaque patients and 3% of the Hypaque patients (P = .04). When patient discomfort reactions were excluded, 21.2% (64/302) of the Omnipaque patients and 40.9% (122/298) of the Hypaque patients suffered at least one contrast material-related adverse reaction (P ≤ .001)