Subacute reactions to intrathecal Amipaque (metrizamide), conray and dimer X: A structural and ultrastructural study

Abstract

Adult New Zealand rabbits were injected intrathecally with 200 or 300 mgI/ml of metrizamide, meglumine iocarmate or meglumine iothalamate. They were placed in the Trendelenburg position for 20 min and allowed to survive for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. Sacrifice was by intraarterial perfusion of aldehydes under anesthesia followed by preparation of brain and major venous sinuses for light and electron microscopy. Major findings were subpial edema and inflammatory reaction of superficial brain, leptomeninges, subarachnoid space and arachnoid granulations. They were most severe after iothalamate and milder after metrizamide. The severity decreased with time. It is of significance that severe reactions occurred after 300 mgI/ml concentration of metrizamide.

Malignant Cerebral Edema following CT Myelogram Using Isovue-M 300 Intrathecal Nonionic Water-Soluble Contrast: A Case Report

“…As various neurotoxic effects can be seen in both rodents and humans, neurotoxic studies in rodents may have predictive value for neurotoxic effects in humans [ 55 ]. In their study of adult rabbits having had intrathecal injection of both ionic and nonionic contrast media, Lee et al found subpial edema as well as acute and chronic inflammation; these conditions were most severe after ionic injection and milder after nonionic injection [ 56 ]. Miyazawa et al infused rat blood with an ionic CM, which deformed red blood cells and in turn induced cerebral edema, destruction of the BBB, and animal death.…”