Iohexol is a non-ionic, water-soluble radiographic contrast agent widely used in medical imaging to enhance the visibility of blood vessels, organs, and tissues during X-ray and CT scans. It was developed in the 1970s by the pharmaceutical company GE Healthcare (originally Amersham Health) as part of a new generation of contrast media designed to reduce the side effects associated with earlier ionic contrast agents, such as pain and nephrotoxicity. Iohexol works by increasing the X-ray attenuation of structures in the body, providing clearer imaging of vascular and organ anatomy. Its introduction marked a significant advancement in diagnostic radiology, offering safer, more tolerable, and highly effective imaging options, and it remains a standard contrast agent in clinical practice worldwide.
