Effect of radiographic contrast media (Iodixanol, Iobitridol) on hemolysis

Abstract

Radiographic contrast media are able to induce changes of the morphology of erythrocytes and endothelial cells. Particularly, the change of the erythrocyte morphology is associated with a decreased deformability possibly resulting from disintegration and a loss of constituents of the membrane cytoskeleton.However, it is unclear whether there is an intravascular hemolysis as a consequence of the disintegration of the erythrocyte membrane cytoskeleton which might more or less coincide with a loss of erythrocyte membrane integrity.The results of this study showed, that free hemoglobin increased from 14.2 ± 5.1 mg/dl to 17.9 ± 9.8 mg/dl after Iobitridol application (p = 0.089), while it slightly decreased from 21.5 ± 10.9 mg/dl to 19.0 ± 12.9 mg/dl after Iodixanol application (p = 0.289). The slight decrease of free hemoglobin after application of Iodixanol differed significantly compared to the increase of free hemoglobin after Iobitridol application (p < 0.05).This different reponse is thought to give evidence to the assumption that the erythrocyte membrane integrity, in deed, was compromised leading to the release of free hemoglobin as an indicator of hemolysis as well.