Contrast-induced nephropathy in outpatients with preexisting renal impairment: a comparison between intravenous iohexol and iodixanol

Concern for contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) may result in administration of more costly agents. We prospectively compared outpatient CIN incidence of iodixanol to iohexol. Patients were randomized to receive 100ml of iohexol (n=47) or iodixanol (n=55). We compared patients who developed CIN using the Wilson score interval and also calculated an odds ratio for the development of CIN. CIN rate for iohexol was 2% compared to 9% for iodixanol. Those receiving iodixanol were almost 5 times more likely to experience CIN. These results do not suggest a benefit of iodixanol over iohexol in the study population.