iocarmic acid

Iocarmic acid is a water-soluble, ionic, dimeric, high-osmolar iodinated contrast medium (HOCM) used historically for X-ray imaging. It contains six iodine atoms per molecule, providing the radiopacity required for diagnostic visualization. Developed in the 1960s and used primarily in the 1970s and 1980s, it was commonly administered as the meglumine salt (meglumine iocarmate). Its primary applications included myelography (imaging of the spinal cord), ventriculography, and hysterosalpingography. While considered better tolerated than some contemporary agents of its era, it has largely been superseded by non-ionic, low-osmolar contrast media (LOCM) which offer improved safety profiles, particularly regarding neurotoxicity and osmolality-related side effects.

Brand names

Dimer-XDimerayDiraxMyelotrast

Other names

iocarmic acidmeglumine iocarmateiocarmate megluminedimerized iothalamic acid