Evaluation of Nephrotoxicity of Iso- Versus Low-Osmolar Iodine Contrast Media by BOLD and Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging

Yuan-Cheng Wang¹, Shenghong Ju¹, Gao-Jun Teng¹

Arguments on the nephrotoxicity of iodixanol (iso-osmolality) and iopromide (low-osmolality) have not stopped so far. We performed a study to evaluate the diffusion and oxygenation of the two kinds of contrast medias using diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) and blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) MRI. The results indicate that iodixanol resulted in a more significant decrease of renal diffusion and oxygenation than iopromide did in the setting of mild dehydration on rabbits. This suggests that iodixanol may not be as safe as people used to think and further study is still needed.