Contrast media comprising a non-ionic contrast agent with low levels of sodium and calcium ions

Abstract

The physiological acceptability of contrast media, especially media for use in angiography, may be enhanced by inclusion of sub-plasma levels of sodium and calcium and, optionally, potassium and/or magnesium, for example 30 mM Na, 0.15 mM Ca, 0.9 mM K and 0.1 mM Mg.

We claim: 
     
       1. A contrast medium composition comprising a physiologically tolerable aqueous carrier medium with dissolved therein: a non-ionic contrast agent; a .[.physiologically tolerable.]. sodium .[.compound.]. .Iadd.salt .Iaddend.providing a sodium ion concentration of 15 to 75 mM Na; a .[.physiologically tolerable.]. calcium salt providing a calcium ion concentration of 0.05 to 0.8 mM Ca.Iadd., the ratio of concentrations of said sodium to said calcium ion provided by said sodium and calcium salts being greater than 60.Iaddend.; and optionally also at least one salt selected from .[.physiologically tolerable.]. potassium and magnesium salts, the total concentration of said .Iadd.potassium salt being up to .Iaddend.2 mM K; wherein .[.the ratio of sodium to calcium ions is greater than 55.]. .Iadd.said salts are selected from the group consisting of chloride, phosphate or hydrogencarbonate salts.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       2. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing .[.calcium.]. .Iadd.said calcium salt .Iaddend.at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.7 mM Ca 2+ . 
     
     
       3. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing .[.calcium.]. .Iadd.said calcium salt .Iaddend.at a concentration of 0.1 to 0.6 mM Ca 2+ . 
     
     
       4. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing .[.potassium.]. .Iadd.said potassium salt .Iaddend.at a concentration of 0.2 to 1.5 mM K + . 
     
     
       5. A composition as claimed in claim 1 .[.and.]. containing .[.potassium.]. .Iadd.said potassium salt .Iaddend.at a concentration of 0.3 to 1.2 mM K + . 
     
     
       6. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing .[.magnesium.]. .Iadd.said magnesium salt .Iaddend.at a concentration of up to 0.8 mM Mg 2+ . 
     
     
       7. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing .[.magnesium.]. .Iadd.said magnesium salt .Iaddend.at a concentration of 0.5 to 0.4 mM Mg 2+ . 
     
     
       8. A composition as claimed in claim 1 containing an iodinated X-ray contrast agent. 
     
     
       9. A composition as claimed in claim 8 containing a contrast agent selected from iohexol, ioversol, iopamidol, iotrolan, ioxaglate and iodixanol. 
     
     
       10. A composition as claimed in claim 8 wherein sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium .Iadd.salts .Iaddend.are present at concentrations of 25-35 mM Na + , 0.1 to 0.3 mM Ca 2+ , 0.3 to 1.2 mM K +   and 0.05 to 0.2 mM Mg 2+   and wherein, where said contrast agent is of ratio 6 or greater, said medium contains a further physiologically tolerable osmoactive agent. 
     
     
       11. A composition as claimed in claim 8 wherein .Iadd.said .Iaddend.sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium .Iadd.salts .Iaddend.are present at concentrations of 65-75 mM Na + , 0.3-0.6 mM Ca 2+ , 0.5-2.0 mM K +   and 0.1-0.4 mM Mg 2+   and wherein said contrast agent is of ratio 6 or greater. 
     
     
       12. A composition as claimed in claim 1 having an osmolality of 290-320 mosm/kg H 2  O.