TAT, F1 + 2, and D-dimer levels in patients after coronary angiography with nonionic or ionic contrast media or after cardiac catheterization.

The prothrombotic effects of nonionic contrast media (NICM) have been evaluated in both biological and clinical studies. The question of whether there is a higher risk of thromboembolism during angiography with NICM than with ionic contrast media (ICM) has not yet been answered, nor has the precise role of the angiographic procedure per se in such complications been determined. The present study was performed to compare in vivo the potential prothrombotic effects during cardiac angiography of an NICM with those of an ICM, to estimate the effects of the procedure per se, and to assess how long these effects might be maintained.

[Angiographic diagnosis in intestinal angiodysplasia. Series of 13 cases].

The authors report 13 cases of intestinal bleeding; while serials endoscopic and radiological examinations had been negative, arteriography allowed intestinal angiodysplasia to be diagnosed, and detected 18 lesions (12 of the right colon, 6 of the small bowel), confirming the fundamental role of arteriography in the diagnosis the localization and extension of these lesions. The importance of accuracy is emphasized both in the performance and in the evaluation of angiographic findings, in order to avoid missing multiple localizations (colon and small bowel). The authors illustrate and evaluate the different angiographic findings.

[Intestinal angiodysplasias. Diagnostic and therapeutic problems].

The cases are presented of 9 patients with intestinal angiodysplasia observed in 1979-85 in the surgery departments of San Carlo Borromeo Hospital, Milan. Diagnostic problems are discussed with particular reference to angiographic and endoscopic methods. Surgical treatment gave good results.

Tubular nephrotoxicity after intravenous urography with ionic high-osmolal and nonionic low-osmolal contrast media in patients with chronic renal insufficiency.

Nephrotoxicity of intravenous contrast media is more frequent and striking in patients with risk factors, the major one being preexisting chronic renal insufficiency. New nonionic low-osmolal contrast media allegedly have less nephrotoxicity than the traditional ionic high-osmolal ones. This was tested for two contrast media in a group of 18 patients with stable chronic renal insufficiency.

[Nephrotoxicity of contrast media. Comparison of iopamidol and diatrizoate by measurement of urinary enzymes after urography].

An ionic (diatrizoate) and a non ionic (iopamidole) radiocontrast medium were compared as to their nephrotoxicity in a cohort of 21 patients with renal disease, 18 of which with normal renal function. The elevation of the urinary excretion of enzymes from renal tubular cells has been considered as a good index for renal tubular damage. We measured two lysosomal enzymes (NAG and beta glucuronidase) and a brush-border enzyme (gamma GT).

[A case of perirenal myxoid liposarcoma].

Radical operation of a right perirenal myxoid liposarcoma is reported. Retroperitoneal sarcomas, in fact, show little response to antiblastic and radiation management. It is pointed out that angiographic diagnosis is an essential prelmiminary to correct surgical indication, particularly since the clinical picture may well be indistinct and poorly specific.