SpringerLink
Log in

Impact of iodine concentration and iodine delivery rate on contrast enhancement in coronary CT angiography: a randomized multicenter trial (CT-CON)

  • Cardiac
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objective

To compare the effect of contrast medium iodine concentration on contrast enhancement, heart rate, and injection pressure when injected at a constant iodine delivery rate in coronary CT angiography (CTA).

Methods

One thousand twenty-four patients scheduled for coronary CTA were prospectively randomized to receive one of four contrast media: iopromide 300 mg I/ml, iohexol 350 mg I/ml, iopromide 370 mg I/ml, or iomeprol 400 mg I/ml. Contrast media were delivered at an equivalent iodine delivery rate of 2.0 g I/s. Intracoronary attenuation was measured and compared (per vessel and per segment). Heart rate before and after contrast media injection was documented. Injection pressure was recorded (n = 403) during contrast medium injection and compared between groups.

Results

Intracoronary attenuation values were similar for the different contrast groups. The mean attenuation over all segments ranged between 384 HU for 350 mg I/ml and 395 HU for 400 mg I/ml (p = 0.079). Dose-length product (p = 0.8424), signal-to-noise ratio (all p > 0.05), time to peak (p = 0.324), and changes in heart rate (p = 0.974) were comparable between groups. The peak pressures differed: 197.4 psi for 300 mg I/ml (viscosity 4.6 mPa s), 229.8 psi for 350 mg I/ml (10.4 mPa s), 216.1 psi for 370 mg I/ml (9.5 mPa s), and 243.7 psi for 400 mg I/ml (12.6 mPa s) (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Intravascular attenuation and changes in heart rate are independent of iodine concentration when contrast media are injected at the same iodine delivery rate. Differences in injection pressures are associated with the viscosity of the contrast media.

Key Points

• The contrast enhancement in coronary CT angiography is independent of the iodine concentration when contrast media are injected at body temperature (37 °C) with the same iodine delivery rate.

• Iodine concentration does not influence the change in heart rate when contrast media are injected at identical iodine delivery rates.

• For a fixed iodine delivery rate and contrast temperature, the viscosity of the contrast medium affects the injection pressure.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

AE:

Adverse events

AHA:

American Heart Association

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

BPM:

Beats per minute

CTA:

Computed tomography angiography

CX:

Circumflex artery

DLP:

Dose-length product

ECG:

Electrocardiogram

HU:

Hounsfield units

IDR:

Iodine delivery rate

IQR:

Interquartile range

LAD:

Left anterior descending artery

LMCA:

Left main coronary artery

MDRD:

Modification of Diet in Renal Disease

RCA:

Right coronary artery

ROI:

Region of interest

SD:

Standard deviation

SNR:

Signal-to-noise ratio

References

  1. Thomas DM, Divakaran S, Villines TC et al (2015) Management of coronary artery calcium and coronary CTA findings. Curr Cardiovasc Imaging Rep 8:18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Mihl C, Kok M, Wildberger JE et al (2015) Coronary CT angiography using low concentrated contrast media injected with high flow rates: feasible in clinical practice. Eur J Radiol 84:2155–2160

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Park EA, Lee W, Park SJ, Kim YK, Hwang HY (2016) Influence of coronary artery diameter on intracoronary transluminal attenuation gradient during CT angiography. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 9:1074–1083

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kok M, Mihl C, Seehofnerova A et al (2015) Automated tube voltage selection for radiation dose reduction in CT angiography using different contrast media concentrations and a constant iodine delivery rate. AJR Am J Roentgenol 205:1332–1338

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Mihl C, Maas M, Turek J et al (2017) Contrast media administration in coronary computed tomography angiography - a systematic review. Rofo 189:312–325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bae KT (2010) Intravenous contrast medium administration and scan timing at CT: considerations and approaches. Radiology 256:32–61

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Austen WG, Edwards JE, Frye RL et al (1975) A reporting system on patients evaluated for coronary artery disease. Report of the Ad Hoc Committee for Grading of Coronary Artery Disease, Council on Cardiovascular Surgery, American Heart Association. Circulation 51:5–40

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Husmann L, Alkadhi H, Boehm T et al (2006) Influence of cardiac hemodynamic parameters on coronary artery opacification with 64-slice computed tomography. Eur Radiol 16:1111–1116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Cademartiri F, Mollet NR, Lemos PA et al (2006) Higher intracoronary attenuation improves diagnostic accuracy in MDCT coronary angiography. AJR Am J Roentgenol 187:W430–W433

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Cademartiri F, de Monye C, Pugliese F et al (2006) High iodine concentration contrast material for noninvasive multislice computed tomography coronary angiography: iopromide 370 versus iomeprol 400. Invest Radiol 41:349–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Bayer plc (2017) Summary of product characteristics Ultravist 300. Bayer plc, Reading, United Kingdom. Available via http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/spcpil/documents/spcpil/con1529039209505.pdf. Accessed September 12 2018

  12. GE Healthcare Inc. (2018) Prescribing information Omnipaque. GE Healthcare Inc. Available via https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/018956s101lbl.pdf. Accessed September 12 2018

  13. Bracco Imaging Deutschland GmbH (2018) Fachinformation [prescribing information] Iomeron. Bracco Imaging Deutschland GmbH, Koblenz, Germany. Available via https://imaging.bracco.com/sites/braccoimaging.com/files/technica_sheet_pdf/de-de-2018-04-24-spc-Imeron.pdf. Accessed August 22 2018

  14. Becker CR, Vanzulli A, Fink C et al (2011) Multicenter comparison of high concentration contrast agent iomeprol-400 with iso-osmolar iodixanol-320: contrast enhancement and heart rate variation in coronary dual-source computed tomographic angiography. Invest Radiol 46:457–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Mihl C, Wildberger JE, Jurencak T et al (2013) Intravascular enhancement with identical iodine delivery rate using different iodine contrast media in a circulation phantom. Invest Radiol 48:813–818

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kok M, Mihl C, Hendriks BM et al (2016) Patient comfort during contrast media injection in coronary computed tomographic angiography using varying contrast media concentrations and flow rates: results from the EICAR trial. Invest Radiol 51:810–815

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Lubbers MM, Kock M, Niezen A et al (2018) Iodixanol versus Iopromide at coronary CT angiography: lumen opacification and effect on heart rhythm-the randomized IsoCOR trial. Radiology 286:71–80

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Zhang J, Fletcher JG, Harmsen WS et al (2008) Analysis of heart rate and heart rate variation during cardiac CT examinations. Acad Radiol 15:40–48

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Chartrand-Lefebvre C, White CS, Bhalla S et al (2011) Comparison of the effect of low- and iso-osmolar contrast agents on heart rate during chest CT angiography: results of a prospective randomized multicenter study. Radiology 258:930–937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Svensson A, Ripsweden J, Ruck A, Aspelin P, Cederlund K, Brismar BT (2010) Heart rate variability and heat sensation during CT coronary angiography: low-osmolar versus iso-osmolar contrast media. Acta Radiol 51:722–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Davenport MS, Wang CL, Bashir MR, Neville AM, Paulson EK (2012) Rate of contrast material extravasations and allergic-like reactions: effect of extrinsic warming of low-osmolality iodinated CT contrast material to 37 degrees C. Radiology 262:475–484

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Rutten A, Meijs MF, de Vos AM, Seidensticker PR, Prokop M (2010) Biphasic contrast medium injection in cardiac CT: moderate versus high concentration contrast material at identical iodine flux and iodine dose. Eur Radiol 20:1917–1925

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Jost G, Pietsch H, Sommer J et al (2009) Retention of iodine and expression of biomarkers for renal damage in the kidney after application of iodinated contrast media in rats. Invest Radiol 44:114–123

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Kok M, Mihl C, Mingels AA et al (2014) Influence of contrast media viscosity and temperature on injection pressure in computed tomographic angiography: a phantom study. Invest Radiol 49:217–223

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Matsumoto Y, Higaki T, Masuda T et al (2018) Minimizing individual variations in arterial enhancement on coronary CT angiographs using “contrast enhancement optimizer”: a prospective randomized single-center study. Eur Radiol. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-018-5823-2

Download references

Acknowledgements

Dr. Alexander Boreham (co.medical, Berlin, Germany) is acknowledged for medical writing.

Funding

This study has received unrestricted funding from Bayer (Germany).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Pharmacy and Medicine, University of Rome Sapienza, Latina, Italy

    Marco Rengo

  2. Departments of Radiology and Cardiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Anoeshka Dharampal, Marisa Lubbers & Koen Nieman

  3. Department of Radiology, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, the Netherlands

    Marc Kock

  4. Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Maastricht UMC+, Maastricht, the Netherlands

    Joachim E. Wildberger & Marco Das

  5. Department of Radiology and Nuclear medicine, Maasstad Ziekenhuis, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

    André Niezen

  6. Department of Radiology, Elisabeth-TweeSteden Ziekenhuis, Tilburg, The Netherlands

    Fiek van Tilborg

  7. Department of Cardiology, Albert Schweitzer Ziekenhuis, Dordrecht, the Netherlands

    Marcel Kofflard

  8. Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Laghi

  9. Department of Radiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands

    Gabriel Krestin

  10. Stanford University School of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, 300 Pasteur Dr, Room H2157, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Koen Nieman

Authors
  1. Marco Rengo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Anoeshka Dharampal
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marisa Lubbers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Marc Kock
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joachim E. Wildberger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Marco Das
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. André Niezen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Fiek van Tilborg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Marcel Kofflard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Andrea Laghi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  11. Gabriel Krestin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  12. Koen Nieman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Koen Nieman.

Ethics declarations

Guarantor

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Koen Nieman.

Conflict of interest

Koen Nieman declared institutional research support from Siemens Healthineers, GE Healthcare, Bayer Healthcare, and Heartflow Inc.

Joachim E. Wildberger declared institutional research grants from AGFA Healthcare, Bayer Healthcare, GE Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, Siemens Healthcare, and Optimed as well as personal disclosures (Speaker’s bureau) from Bayer and Siemens.

Marco Das declared institutional research grants at the time of the study from Bayer Healthcare, Philips Healthcare, and Siemens Healthcare as well as personal disclosures (Speaker’s bureau) from Bayer and Siemens and Cook Medical.

Andrea Laghi declared personal disclosure (Speaker’s bureau) from Bayer, Bracco, GE Healthcare, Merck, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

The other authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies, whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article.

Statistics and biometry

One of the authors has significant statistical expertise.

Informed consent

Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study.

Ethical approval

Institutional Review Board approval was obtained.

Methodology

• prospective.

• randomized controlled trial.

• multicenter study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Rengo, M., Dharampal, A., Lubbers, M. et al. Impact of iodine concentration and iodine delivery rate on contrast enhancement in coronary CT angiography: a randomized multicenter trial (CT-CON). Eur Radiol 29, 6109–6118 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06196-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-019-06196-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation