Effect of Contrast Media on Whole Blood Filtrability

Abstract

The effects of three contrast media, iohexol, iopamidol and ioxaglate, on rat erythrocytes were compared. Three parameters representative of the rheologic properties of blood were investigated: whole blood filtrability, red cell filtrability and morphology. Whole blood and red cell filtrabilities were both measured using an erythrometer and red cell morphology was observed with an optical microscope. Iohexol and iopamidol were found to cause a significant increase in filtrability indices and to modify the shape of red blood cells. Ioxaglate had less effect on these parameters than did the other two contrast media. The chemical structure seems to be a determining factor for red cell integrity. The study of blood rheology parameters in vitro may be useful as a model predictive of observations on human blood and of hemodynamic consequences.