Acetrizoate sodium

Acetrizoate Sodium is a type of contrast agent used in medical imaging to enhance the visibility of internal structures in the body. It belongs to the class of ionic monomeric contrast media, which are compounds containing iodine, a substance that absorbs x-rays.

History

Acetrizoate Sodium was first introduced in the 1950s as a contrast agent for radiography. It was one of the earliest contrast agents to be developed and was widely used in various types of diagnostic imaging procedures.

Uses

Acetrizoate Sodium is primarily used in intravenous urography, a procedure that involves injecting the contrast agent into a vein and then taking x-ray images of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder. It is also used in angiography, a technique for visualizing blood vessels.

Mechanism of Action

The iodine in Acetrizoate Sodium absorbs x-rays and makes the structures that it has been injected into appear white on the x-ray images. This allows doctors to clearly see these structures and diagnose any abnormalities.

Side Effects

Like all contrast agents, Acetrizoate Sodium can cause side effects. These can range from mild reactions like nausea and vomiting to more serious reactions like anaphylaxis. However, serious reactions are rare.

See Also

• Contrast agent
• Radiography
• Intravenous urography
• Angiography