Purpose: To evaluate gadodiamide as an alternative contrast agent for peripheral and renal angioplasty in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast media.
Methods: Seventeen patients (10 men; mean age 74 years, range 68-83) with contraindication to iodinated contrast media were given gadodiamide as the contrast agent during peripheral and renal intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) and subsequent percutaneous interventions (balloon angioplasty, stent placement).
Results: The mean volume of gadodiamide used was 136 +/- 46 mL (range 60-200). No serious side effects were observed, especially no change in renal or thyroid function; no exanthema or other allergic reactions were noted. In patients without renal artery intervention, serum creatinine at discharge remained unchanged (2.57 +/- 1.43 mg/dL to 2.40 +/- 1.28 mg/dL, p=NS). In patients undergoing angioplasty/stenting of renal artery stenoses, serum creatinine decreased significantly from 3.53 +/- 1.75 mg/dL to 2.36 +/- 1.15 mg/dL (p<0.01). All but 1 intervention was successful. Using a simple scoring system, 2 judges blinded to the contrast agent graded the quality of the peripheral DSAs as "good," whereas renal DSA images were only "sufficient."
Conclusions: For patients with contraindications to iodinated materials, gadodiamide may be a suitable alternative for renal or peripheral DSA followed by angioplasty.