Urinary Excretion of Three Oral Gholecystographic Agents in Man

Summary The excretion of 3 oral cholecystographic agents in the urine has been studied in 3 normal subjects in experimental cross-over design, following administration of standard diagnostic dosages. For the 0-108-hour period the total mean excretion, based on organic iodine determination was: for iopanoate, 1.1 g (37%), for tyropanoate 2.2 g (49.9%), and for bunamiodyl, 2.0 g (44.2%). For all 3 compounds less than 8% of the urinary iodine was in a solvent-extractable (presumably unchanged) form. In view of the relatively small amounts of the radiopaques excreted in the urine in an unchanged form, and their solubilities at physiological pH values, it does not appear that renal damage due to actual physical blockage should represent a significant hazard. Nevertheless, the suggestion of Nelson(14) that these compounds should be accompanied by an adequate fluid intake seems in order.