Relationships between patient characteristics and contrast agent dose for successful computed tomography venography with a body-weight-tailored contrast protocol

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of patient characteristics on the contrast agent dosage that is required to reach effective enhancement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) on computed tomography venographs (CTV). This retrospective study included 50 patients who underwent CTV at 80 kVp. The contrast injection protocol (iodine 600 mg/kg) was tailored to their body weight. We calculated the required contrast agent volume (CAV(mean-IVC)) to reach the mean enhancement of IVC. We performed univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses between the sex, age, body weight (BW), lean body weight (LBW), body surface area (BSA), height (HT), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and CAV(mean-IVC). The univariate linear regression analysis show that HT, BW, LBW, and BSA were significantly correlated with CAV(mean-IVC) (P < .01 for all). The CAV(mean-IVC) was significantly higher for males than females (P < .01). Multivariate regression analysis showed that BW, LBW, and BSA had a statistically significant effect on CAV(mean-IVC). There was no significant correlation of age, HT, or eGFR with CAV(mean-IVC). BW, LBW, and BSA each had an independent significant effect on CAV(mean-IVC). The conventional BW-tailored contrast injection protocol might be insufficient for CTV.