Chinese medical experts recently completed a large clinical study on the safety of a "contrast agent" that makes blood vessels and the gastrointestinal tract more visible.

The iodine derivative Iodixanol is one of the most widely used enhancing agents for diagnostic and interventional procedures. But previous studies in humans have mainly come from Western countries, says Xu Yawei, a professor of medicine from the department of cardiology at Shanghai No 10 People's Hospital.

"What we didn't have is the safety profile among Chinese patients, especially delayed adverse drug reactions." The study concluded that the safety of Iodixanol in routine clinical practice is similar to that of other non-ionic iodinated contrast agents. Patient discomfort during administration is mild or absent in most patients. The study was published in the British Journal of Radiology late last year.